KABUL - The Afghan government assured international community that the development aid pledged at the just-concluded Tokyo Conference would be spent according to the country's 10-year strategic plan.
"Assistance pledged by Japan would be spent by Afghan government according the priorities of the 10 year strategic plan of Afghanistan," said the Presidential Palace in statement on Tuesday.

Last Sunday, global donors collectively pledged $16 billion in civilian aid over the next four years to help Afghan manage its weak economy.
On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told President Hamid Karzai that Japan would continue it assistance to Afghanistan during the decade of change, said the statement.

"The Tokyo Conference has sent a strong message to the world about the importance of economic development of Afghanistan," Noda said.

Karzai thanked Noda for hosting the conference and asked Japanese assistance to construct ring roads -- connecting Heart, Bamyan, Ghor, Uruzgan, Daikundi to Kabul -- that would help Afghanistan's infrastructure development, said the statement.

Karzai also asked Japan to offer scholarships for Afghan students to continue their higher education in Japanese universities.
Japan had pledged to train 500 Afghan students in different fields of studies in the next five years in the country. (Pajhwok)