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United States-Afghanistan relations can be traced back to over 150 years, to the early 1800s, when the first recorded person from America was visiting Afghanistan . Biography of Josia Harlan In the 1940s, the United States established its first official embassy in Kabul . The first U.S. Ambassador To Afghanistan was Cornelius Van Engert. Frye, R. N. ''Greater Iran''. Mazda Publishers. 2005. ISBN 1-56859-177-2. p.28 The first U.S. President to visit Afghanistan was Dwight Eisenhower , who traveled to Kabul in the 1950s, where he met King Of Afghanistan , Zahir Shah . Closer relations between Afghanistan and the United States began to develop since then. HISTORY , an American adventurer in 1830s, wearing his Afghan robes.]] The first recorded contact between Afghanistan and the United States occurred in 1830s when Josiah Harlan , an American adventurer from the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania , travelled to Afghanistan with intentions of becoming a king there. He became involved in the local Afghan politics and factional military actions, eventually winning the title Prince of Ghor in exchange for military aid. Biography of Josia Harlan After the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1934, the U.S. policy of helping developing nations raise their standard of living was an important factor in maintaining and improving U.S. ties with Afghanistan.U.S. Department of State - Background Note: Afghanistan In 1942, Major Gordon Enders of the U.S. Army was appointed "the first military attaché to the non-existent U.S. embassy in Kabul . He was the first envoy of any kind to be sent to represent the United States in Kabul." Frye, R. N. ''Greater Iran''. Mazda Publishers. 2005. ISBN 1-56859-177-2. p.16 However, the first official U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan was Cornelius Van Engert . Frye, R. N. ''Greater Iran''. Mazda Publishers. 2005. ISBN 1-56859-177-2. p.28 In the 1950s, Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Kabul, becoming the first U.S. President to travel to Afghanistan. From 1950 to 1979, U.S. foreign assistance provided Afghanistan with more than $500 million in loans, grants, and surplus agricultural commodities to develop transportation facilities, increase agricultural production, expand the educational system, stimulate industry, and improve government administration.U.S. Department of State - Background Note: Afghanistan In the 1950s, the U.S. declined Afghanistan's request for defense cooperation but extended an economic assistance program focused on the development of Afghanistan's physical infrastructure--roads, dams, and power plants. Later, U.S. aid shifted from infrastructure projects to technical assistance programs to help develop the skills needed to build a modern economy. The Peace Corps was active in Afghanistan between 1962 and 1979. During the early 1960s former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah , visited the United States and met with John F. Kennedy at the White House in Washington, DC. After the April 1978 coup, relations deteriorated. In February 1979, U.S. Ambassador Adolph "Spike" Dubs was murdered in Kabul after Afghan security forces burst in on his kidnappers. The U.S. then reduced bilateral assistance and terminated a small military training program. All remaining assistance agreements were ended after the Soviet Invasion Of Afghanistan . During the cold war Following the Soviet invasion, the United States supported diplomatic efforts to achieve a Soviet withdrawal. In addition, generous U.S. contributions to the refugee program in Pakistan played a major part in efforts to assist Afghans in need. U.S. efforts also included helping Afghans living inside Afghanistan. This cross-border Humanitarian Assistance program aimed at increasing Afghan self-sufficiency and helping Afghans resist Soviet attempts to drive civilians out of the rebel-dominated countryside. During the period of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the U.S. provided about 3 billion US Dollars in military and economic assistance to the Afghan Mujahideen s. The U.S. embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989 for security reasons. War on terrorism George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush walk visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a ceremony at Camp David in Maryland, USA .]] Following the and First Lady Laura Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan before their trips to India and Pakistan . In the meantime, the United States has also provided to Afghanistan multi-billion US dollars for the Reconstruction Of The Country .Bloomberg, Bush to Seek as Much as $8 Billion for Afghanistan, Snow Says By Judy Mathewson SEE ALSO REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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