On November 22, President Hamid Karzai received Soren Gade, Denmark’s Minister of Defense, and other Danish parliamentarians at the Presidential Palace.

President Hamid Karzai noted some key achievements in Afghanistan over the last several years such as the growth of its economy, building of institutions, and greater access to health care and education.  However, challenges such as the fight against terrorism and narcotics and the lack of a highly-skilled base of human resources, he warned, indicate that reconstruction is still far from over and will require the international community’s support for years to come.

Citing terrorism as a major obstacle to Afghanistan’s development and one that can only be eradicated by targeting its roots, President Hamid Karzai urged the need for greater assistance from the international community to strengthen the country’s security institutions.

Minister Gade and the delegation of MPs from the Defense and Foreign Relations Committees of Denmark’s legislature reaffirmed their country’s continued commitment to helping Afghanistan in the areas of security, counter-terrorism, and reconstruction.