TOKYO (AFP) - Japan pledged 110 million dollars of fresh aid to Afghanistan but Tokyo and other donors warned that violence, drugs and corruption were hindering progress in the war-torn country.
Twenty-four nations and international organisations held talks in Tokyo of the Afghanistan Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, which looks at how reconstruction aid is spent।
The meeting also focused on drugs in Afghanistan, which grows 90 percent of the world's illicit opium with production hitting a new high last year.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura opened the two-day closed-door meeting by announcing a further 110 million dollars of help for Kabul.
Komura said, however, that lingering violence posed threats to lasting peace in Afghanistan.
"The security of Kabul has deteriorated with suicide bombings and kidnapping of foreigners, and the insurgent activities in the southern part of the country could intensify at any moment," he said.
"So as to overcome these challenges, further strengthening of the institutions of the government of Afghanistan and corresponding support from the international community are indispensable," he said.
Those concerns were also expressed in a joint communique by all meeting participants, who pointed to progress in Afghanistan but noted areas for improvement.
The participants "noted that Taliban, related armed groups, terrorism and narcotics continue to pose a challenge, inhibiting the peace process; and governance has been challenged by capacity constraints, weak rule of law and corruption," the communique said.
Afghan Foreign Minister Dadfar Spanta acknowledged problems but said the business environment, education and health care had improved significantly since a US-led coalition ousted the extremist Taliban regime in late 2001.
"Now the major challenge before us is to translate the benefits of this growth into employment opportunities for millions of unemployed citizens," he told the monitoring board, which was meeting for the seventh time.
"Let me assure you. We are fully committed to building a stable, peaceful and democratic and prosperous Afghanistan," he said, asking for continued help from the international community.
The participants -- mainly high-level diplomats -- agreed on the need for the Afghan government to strengthen its authority in a bid to bring social order and security, said a Japanese official who attended the talks.
"The participants agreed that the Afghan government and the international community must adopt holistic and comprehensive strategies," the diplomat said.
"The Afghan government expressed their wish for continued strategic, financial and other support," he said.
Japan has been a major donor to Afghanistan, already pledging some 1.2 billion dollars since the fall of the Taliban.
The newly pledged aid, which is subject to parliamentary approval, includes 13 million dollars to help literacy efforts and nine million dollars to enhance border security.
Some 90 million dollars would be sent to UN agencies for causes including assisting refugees and removing landmines.
Shortly before the meeting began, the World Bank and the British government issued a joint report calling for improved coordination among donors to increase the effectiveness of aid in Afghanistan.
"Assistance is fragmented, with 62 donors, many with their own distinct security, political and development interests," said Alastair McKechnie, World Bank country director for Afghanistan.
"Coordination requires strong leadership from governments," he said.
Twenty-four nations and international organisations held talks in Tokyo of the Afghanistan Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, which looks at how reconstruction aid is spent।
The meeting also focused on drugs in Afghanistan, which grows 90 percent of the world's illicit opium with production hitting a new high last year.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura opened the two-day closed-door meeting by announcing a further 110 million dollars of help for Kabul.
Komura said, however, that lingering violence posed threats to lasting peace in Afghanistan.
"The security of Kabul has deteriorated with suicide bombings and kidnapping of foreigners, and the insurgent activities in the southern part of the country could intensify at any moment," he said.
"So as to overcome these challenges, further strengthening of the institutions of the government of Afghanistan and corresponding support from the international community are indispensable," he said.
Those concerns were also expressed in a joint communique by all meeting participants, who pointed to progress in Afghanistan but noted areas for improvement.
The participants "noted that Taliban, related armed groups, terrorism and narcotics continue to pose a challenge, inhibiting the peace process; and governance has been challenged by capacity constraints, weak rule of law and corruption," the communique said.
Afghan Foreign Minister Dadfar Spanta acknowledged problems but said the business environment, education and health care had improved significantly since a US-led coalition ousted the extremist Taliban regime in late 2001.
"Now the major challenge before us is to translate the benefits of this growth into employment opportunities for millions of unemployed citizens," he told the monitoring board, which was meeting for the seventh time.
"Let me assure you. We are fully committed to building a stable, peaceful and democratic and prosperous Afghanistan," he said, asking for continued help from the international community.
The participants -- mainly high-level diplomats -- agreed on the need for the Afghan government to strengthen its authority in a bid to bring social order and security, said a Japanese official who attended the talks.
"The participants agreed that the Afghan government and the international community must adopt holistic and comprehensive strategies," the diplomat said.
"The Afghan government expressed their wish for continued strategic, financial and other support," he said.
Japan has been a major donor to Afghanistan, already pledging some 1.2 billion dollars since the fall of the Taliban.
The newly pledged aid, which is subject to parliamentary approval, includes 13 million dollars to help literacy efforts and nine million dollars to enhance border security.
Some 90 million dollars would be sent to UN agencies for causes including assisting refugees and removing landmines.
Shortly before the meeting began, the World Bank and the British government issued a joint report calling for improved coordination among donors to increase the effectiveness of aid in Afghanistan.
"Assistance is fragmented, with 62 donors, many with their own distinct security, political and development interests," said Alastair McKechnie, World Bank country director for Afghanistan.
"Coordination requires strong leadership from governments," he said.
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