KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said the international community’s aid pledges worth $15.2 billion and an investment of $1.1 billion by the private sector in the past three months indicated a positive change in the country.
The president attended the final session of the Brussels Conference on Wednesday evening when the global fraternity pledged $15.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan over the next four years.
A statement from the Presidential Palace said European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini hailed the conference as a success. World leaders agreed to work jointly with the Afghan government.
She thanked the Afghan leaders, particularly the president, saying the conference showed the international community was strongly supporting Afghanistan.
“So you have reason to go back home with good news to tell. We have reason to share with all our friends in the world and in Afghanistan and in the region the good news that the international community is firmly at the side of the Afghan people,” she told the president.
“Starting with Afghan women, and youths - because we know very well that investing in Afghanistan, in the Afghan people and in the strength and the wisdom of the Afghan people, is the way of investing in international stability and in our own present and future,” Mogherini remarked.
On behalf of Afghans, Ghani thanked the EU and international organisations for fruitfully conducting the conference and their generous commitments to Afghanistan.
He said joint work of the Afghan government with the EU was the reason why the conference ended on a productive note. Civil society, media and the private sector also played an important role, Ghani acknowledged.
The private sector’s $1.1 billion in the past three months was indicative of a positive change in Afghanistan, Ghani observed. His government would immediately start its work, ensuring full transparency.
Ghani left for Belgium at the head of a high-level delegation to attend the Brussels Conference on October 4 and 5. He returned to Kabul on Thursday morning. (Pajhwok)