Jacobson: Afghanistan mission was successful

DW: Thirteen years ago, Afghanistan's Taliban regime was taken down by a NATO coalition. But today, there is a Taliban attack somewhere in the country nearly on a daily basis. Can NATO really end its mission with a clear conscience?

Jacobson: NATO's combat mission largely ended when Afghanistan forces took over security responsibility in most of the country in 2013. Last summer, during the politically delicate phase of elections and when ballots were being counted, Afghan forces conducted more than 90 percent of all operations in Afghanistan. In these operations, NATO forces offered support. With the end of the combat mission, NATO will limit activities to offering advice and support to the leadership of Afghan armed forces.

I am quite optimistic that Afghanistan's armed forces are capable of taking the security of their country into their own hands. Over two summers, they have already proven that, and we will stay here in a new mission to support them in doing so.

After the withdrawal of the former Soviet Union at the end of the 1980s, the Najibullah regime, which was installed by Moscow, was only able to fight off the insurgency and stay in power for three years. The fall of that regime led to a bloody civil war. Many Afghans are worried that history will repeat itself after the full withdrawal of NATO and US forces.

The situation when the Soviet troops left was completely different from today's. At the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Afghans waged an intense war against the Soviet occupation army. The government that the occupying power installed could not stay in power because it was not accepted by the people.

Today there is a different situation: the international community has invested a great deal to establish, train and equip the Afghan army, and subsequently supported the Afghans through the democratic process, which with wide popular support and against the insurgents' resistance, led to successful elections. Over the summer, Afghanistan had a democratic transition of power to a democratically elected president for the first time in history.

It is of vital importance to have stability in Afghanistan - that there is a stable government which continues to develop and progress and is capable of exhibiting successful leadership in the areas of economy, security and also in questions of international cooperation.

How can NATO make sure that the successes achieved are not destroyed like they were in Iraq?

The successes I have just named are measurable. It isn't only about the 350,000 police and soldiers who are now trained and equipped and can serve their country, and whom we continue to advise. It is about the overall situation of the country - improvements to infrastructure, electrical power supply and the health care and medical system.

We have achieved an increase in life expectancy from 48 to 63 years. That is not just an indicator for improvements in medical standards, but also for improvements in living conditions. The Afghans are not likely to want to put all of that on the line. It is difficult to find an Afghan who wishes for the return of the Taliban regime. So from NATO's perspective, we now need support with issues regarding the organization and leadership of an army and a police force, along with the acquisition of provisions. That is the No. 1 task for the assistance mission "Resolute Support," which is concentrating on the ministerial level and the country's leadership.

There have been attacks on Afghan security forces, which have substantially damaged the trust between the Afghans and their allies. A few months ago, a US general was killed by Afghan soldiers at a Kabul military academy and a general of the German Bundeswehr was injured. How can there be a trusting, cooperative working relationship in future, considering such incidents?

General Harold Green, who was killed at the beginning of August, was a personal friend of mine and I know this situation very well because I was deployed at the time. I was also deployed in 2011 and 2012, when the so-called "green on blue" insider attacks, as we called them, really worried us. Since 2012, we have taken comprehensive measures - not only us, but also the Afghans. The risk of attacks like these happening again has been reduced by a great deal. The incident at the military training academy was an exception and also the only such "green on blue" attack we have seen in this form since June.

This is not our main threat. The main threat we are facing now is from attacks carried out by the Taliban on random Afghan targets.

What has NATO learned from its mission in Afghanistan? Are there any lessons that can be applied to other or future international missions?

The most important thing is that no two missions are the same. But one of the most important insights gained is surely that we need a system that quickly enables us to be able to set up a security system based on international legal norms and values in countries where this is needed. Naturally, this will not always overlap with the ideals of Western democracy, but it should be in accordance and compliance with the framework of humanitarian international law. These security forces have to be trained, equipped and assisted so that they are capable of keeping the monopoly of power in the hands of the state and guaranteeing everyone's security. Not until that is given will our mission be completed.

"Germany is being defended" in Afghanistan, former German Defense Minister Peter Struck said. Is this still the case?

That sentence Peter Struck said was meant metaphorically. He was referring to [attacks and threats of attacks] on the streets of cities in the West - Washington, New York and later in London and Madrid and these days in many other cities in the Western world. [He wanted to say] that defending the peace and security of our citizens does not happen where the attacks are carried out, but where the attacks are planned. That's why we went to Afghanistan and stayed there for 13 years. That's why we support the Afghans. We have a common interest in preventing a terrorist regime from ever coming to power in Afghanistan again.

As a Bundeswehr officer and deputy ISAF commander, which impressions and feelings will you taking with you when you leave this country?

I'm not saying good-bye just yet. I will remain deployed in my function for another six months for the mission "Resolute Support" and will continue to oversee the mission as deputy ISAF commander. I was here in 2011 and 2012 and can openly say that I was happy to come back to Afghanistan because I like the people and want to see them have peace - they've earned it. Also because I hope this country will be able to break the cycle of violence after 30 years of war, to push back the insurgency and have a normal life on the state level. The thing that makes it most worth while is looking into children's eyes who can now go to school and who are the future of this country. I like it in Afghanistan - I like to be with the people, I like to help here. Last time I left, I took a piece of Afghanistan home with me and that's what will happen next June as well.