The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing the foreign relations of Afghanistan. The nation has maintained good relations with the United States and other members of NATO since at least the 1920s. Afghanistan joined the United Nations on November 19, 1946, and has been a member since. In 2002, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan was established to help rebuild the country. Today, more than 22 NATO nations deploy over 100,000 troops in Afghanistan as a part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Apart from close military links, Afghanistan also enjoys strong economic relations with NATO members and other allies. The United States is the largest donor to Afghanistan, followed by Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, India and others.[115]
Soldiers of the Afghan National Army, including the ANA Commando Battalion standing in the front.
Relations between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan often fluctuate and tensions between the two countries have existed since 1947.[116][117][118] During the Taliban 1996 to 2001 rule, Pakistan was supporting the Taliban leaders[119] against the Iranian-backed Northern Alliance.[120] Though Pakistan maintains strong security and economic links with Afghanistan, dispute between the two countries remain due to Pakistani concerns over growing influence of rival India in Afghanistan and the continuing border dispute over the poorly-marked Durand Line.[121] In May 2007, Afghan and Pakistani forces became involved in border skirmishes. Relations between the two strained further after Afghan officials alleged that Pakistani intelligence agencies were involved in some terrorist attacks on Afghanistan.[122][123] Pakistan is a participant in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, pledging $250 million in various projects across the country.[124]
Afghanistan has close historical, linguistic and cultural ties with neighboring Iran as both countries were part of Greater Persia before 1747.[125] Afghanistan-Iran relations formally initiated after 1935 between Zahir Shah and Reza Shah[citation needed], which soured after the rise of radical Sunni Taliban regime in 1997 but rebounded after the establishment of Karzai government.[126] Iran has also actively participated in the Afghan reconstruction efforts[127] but is accused at the same time by American and British politicians of secretly funding the Taliban against NATO-Afghan officials.[128] Afghanistan also enjoys good relations with neighboring Central Asian nations, especially Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
India is often regarded as one of Afghanistan's most influential allies.[129] India is the largest regional donor to Afghanistan and has extensively participated in several Afghan reconstruction efforts, including power, agricultural and educational projects.[130][131] Since 2002, India has extended more than US$1.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan.[132] Strong military ties also exist – Afghan security forces regularly get counter-insurgency training in India[133] and India is also considering the deployment of troops in Afghanistan.[134]
The military of Afghanistan is under the Ministry of Defense, which includes the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Army Air Force. It currently has about 134,000 members and is expected to reach 260,000 in the coming years. They are trained and equipped by NATO countries, mainly by the United States armed forces. The ANA is divided into 7 major Corps, with the 201st Selab ("Flood") in Kabul being the main one. The ANA also has a special commando brigade which was started in 2007. The National Military Academy of Afghanistan serves as the main education institute for the militarymen of the country. A new $200 million Afghan Defense University (ADU) is under construction near the capital.
