KABUL - If the international community fails to fund Afghan National Security Forces after 2014, as sought by the Afghan government, mega development projects in the country could face financial problems, the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) cautioned on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the government plans to ask the international community for $5 billion yearly after the 2014 planned withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan at the upcoming Chicago and Tokyo conferences.

The Chicago Summit is scheduled to take place in May, where funding Afghan security forces after 2014 would be decided. While at the Tokyo conference in July, the international community is expected to make a final decision on its pledges.

An AISA official, RoohullahAhmadzai told Pajhwok Afghan News, so far only the US had announced concrete figures, pledging to pump in some $1.8 billion per year to finance the Afghan police and military. While other International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) states are also expected to contribute $1.8 billion.

He said an additional $500 million would come from the government in Kabul and the total funding of $4.1 billion per year was not sufficient to support the Afghan security forces.
"If the US and the international community failed to provide financial assistance as demanded by the Afghan government, it would not only leave a negative impact on the private sector, but would also disrupt foreign investments on key projects in the country," he said.

He said major projects, including the development of Ainak copper mine, exploitation of gas and oil fields at the Amu River basin and the proposed gas pipeline project, channeling gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and then to India through Afghanistan would be affected.

Ahmazai said the projects were very important for Afghanistan's economic growth. "Afghan forces will be able to maintain security for these key projects until they are funded by the international community in line with the government's demand," he said.

He said peace and security were key elements to attract foreign investment and if the situation remained the same, no one would like to risk their capital.

However, a Ministry of Mines official, TamimAsimi, called AISA's warning as presumption. "The strategic agreements we have signed with a number of foreign countries and the pledges made by ministers of NATO member countries in Belgium showed the international community is committed to support Afghan forces as desired by the government," he said. (Pajhwok)