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«At no time has Switzerland’s presence in Afghanistan been in the pursuit of a political agenda or subject to strategic or military considerations. Our desire has always been to be active and provide support in the areas of humanitarian aid and development cooperation,» Switzerland’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Christoph Bubb stressed at a celebration in Kabul in the spring of 2012, marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Cooperation Office.
As a neutral nation with no colonial past, Switzerland has long since proven its unique ability to operate effectively in fragile, complex contexts. Today the SDC remains one of the few government agencies that carry out projects in Afghanistan without the need for armed protection.
Humanitarian aid and a long-term commitment
Although the SDC has been providing aid to the Afghan population for more than 30 years, it was in 2002, one year after the fall of the Taliban, that a Cooperation Office was opened in Kabul. The objective was to strengthen humanitarian aid for the benefit of the most needy segments of the population: displaced persons, returnees, and Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan.
Since 2004 Switzerland’s support to Afghanistan has taken the form of a long-term commitment to the promotion of development and reconstruction. The SDC focuses in particular on good governance, respect for human rights and the improvement of the living conditions of the most deprived and underprivileged segments of the population.