Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov has said that his country is doing its bit to send a signal to the international community that a great contribution is needed to ensure Afghanistan's economic renovation.
In a recent interview given to the editor of The National Interest (TNI), Jacob Heilbrunn, Mr. Idrissov said restoring peace, security and normalcy to Afghanistan is an absolute imperative, and Kazakhstan has been doing its bit in terms of offering humanitarian assistance, financial and infrastructural support.
"We are building schools, roads, hospitals. We have provided food to Afghanistan. Kazakhstan is the largest supplier of grain and wheat to Afghanistan. Recently, three years ago we launched a unique program for Afghanistan - we have allocated 50 million dollars to invest into the future of Afghanistan, its young people," Foreign Minister Idrissov said.
On the education front, Kazakhstan has so far received 1,000 Afghan scholarship students who are studying subjects like engineering, agriculture, medical services and policing, etc.
"Investment should be made into the young generation of Afghanistan so that, they are able to take the reins of their own country. We are really hopeful for the results of the two elections, which took place in Afghanistan. Irrespective of some controversy around these elections, we believe Afghans have enough capability to take the reins and to protect the security of their own country," he said.
On the issue of withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan, Idrissov said that Kazakhstan is not in favour of subscribing "to apocalyptic, catastrophic scenarios for Afghanistan."
"Of course, matters of security remain at the top of the agenda for that country, but I believe there will be mustered up support within Afghanistan by the public of Afghanistan, all elements of its society, with the support of the neighboring countries, and with the support of the international coalition. With all of this, it is quite possible to pull this country out onto the track of normalcy," he said.
