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Afghan leader flies in to ask for more aid
Afghanistan's finance minister warned last night that the money given by the international community to rebuild his country was "running out" and that a further $15bn (£9bn) would be needed.At least the Afghan finance minister knows his job. He's got his hand out! Ashraf Ghani said unless Britain and others made a long-term commitment to supporting Afghanistan, it stood no chance of "getting out" of poverty. The cash donated by the west after the fall of the Taliban in 2001 was not enough for reconstruction. The same message will be delivered to Tony Blair over lunch today by Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai - that unless Britain and other western governments step up their assistance the country is in danger of collapse. Mr Ghani said: "Britain has been generous and supportive. But the international community has given us the lowest amount of per capita assistance of any post-conflict country." "What's wrong with us? Cripes, you gave the Bosnians more than you gave us!" His remarks came on the eve of a two-day state visit by Mr Karzai to Britain. Afghanistan is nearly bankrupt. Officials said the original estimates for rebuilding the country were wildly optimistic. They said the UN in Afghanistan had consumed much of the $5.1bn given so far because of its profligate running costs. One senior official said: "Most of the money given by the international community last year went back into the international community's pocket. We got very little." No twitch on the surprise meter there. Mr Karzai is now seeking an additional $15bn over five years. Britain has promised £200m, with £110m donated so far. But the government remains vague as to how much more will be forthcoming. Last month Mr Ghani warned that Afghanistan would turn into a "narco-mafia" state, run by warlords and drug barons, unless more aid was donated. "You want us to be next Myanmar? The next Pashtunistan? The next Afgha ... um, fork over some dough!" "Afghanistan is at a turning point. Either we go towards a virtuous circle or a vicious circle," he said. "We are seriously concerned that in terms of the people of Afghanistan we have to deliver, and deliver rapidly, or there will be a possibility of descending into a vicious circle." Mr Karzai would also urge Mr Blair to step up Britain's contribution towards eradicating opium production in the country. Afghanistan is now the world's largest producer of heroin. Measures taken by Britain have had little impact so far. Afghanistan's opium farmers are poised over the next few weeks to bring in another bumper crop. Wonder if the North Koreans have their hooks in this somehow? White skag going overland to the Paks, thence to Karachi and a dilapidated NKor ship. Mr Karzai is also likely to ask the prime minister to send more troops to Afghanistan. He has repeatedly asked the international community to beef up the 5,000-strong peacekeeping International Security and Assistance Force which is currently restricted to Kabul. A spokesman for the Afghan foreign ministry said: "Afghans continuously ask us for the presence of more coalition forces, and in particular for UK troops. British soldiers have a very good reputation in Afghanistan." British Foreign Office sources yesterday indicated that Mr Karzai's plea stood little chance of success. British officials said about 70 British troops would be deployed in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, in the north, to protect officials of the Department for International Development as well as other civilians working on reconstruction projects. Said Tayab Jawad, Mr Karzai's chief of staff, said last night that Afghanistan saw Britain as a trusted ally. "There is a very good chemistry between President Karzai and Tony Blair," he said. "They are very good friends. They keep in touch outside official contacts." "So please give us more money!" Posted by: Steve White 2003-06-05 |
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