Afghanistan donor conference due in British capital

A donor conference aimed at boosting Afghanistan’s prospects following the withdrawal of US-led combat troops is to be convened in the British capital of London with over 50 state participants.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is expected to use the Thursday conference to seek endorsement for his plan for a “transformation decade” from 2015 to 2024, and guarantees that the withdrawal of the foreign forces will not be followed by rapid cuts in financial aid.

“As Afghanistan has a commitment to introduce reforms, it will tell the international community, in particular, donors at the meeting, that this is our agenda for reform and based on it, they should assist and support us,” said presidential spokesman Nazifollah Salarzai in an interview with Afghan TV.

This is while aid agencies working in Afghanistan are calling on the international community to make long-term financial commitments or risk seeing the country collapse.

The planned donor conference comes amid a recent surge in attacks by Taliban militants in Afghanistan.

The Taliban have intensified their attacks on foreign nationals, as well as Afghan soldiers in recent months, prompting concerns over the Afghan army’s ability to protect the nation from the armed militants.

One of the most recent attacks targeted a compound used by a US-based charity on Saturday, killing three South African nationals.

Meanwhile, two American soldiers and two British embassy workers were killed last week in separate attacks, with dozens of Afghans also killed and injured.

Foreign combat troops are due to pull out of the war-ravaged country at the end of the month. Some 12,000 US-led NATO soldiers will remain for training and advisory purposes, and a separate US-led force will purportedly help Afghan troops in some operations against the Taliban.