New figure from donors ‘ impressive’

World renews Afghanistan aid with cease- fire call and peace conditions

Donors demanded an immediate ceasefire in Afghanistan on Tuesday as they pledged around $ 12 billion in aid over four years – but tied their money to civil rights being upheld in peace talks with the Taliban.

At a virtual global donor conference hosted from the UN in Geneva, countries affirmed their commitment to propping up a nation beset by violence between the Taliban and government forces, rampant corruption and an imminent withdrawal of US troops.

The international community called for an “immediate permanent and comprehensive cease- fire,” as at least 14 people were killed in central Afghanistan when two blasts ripped through the historic city of Bamiyan, home to many members of the mainly Shiite Hazara ethnic minority.

The twin bombing marked the latest

big attack in Afghanistan, where violence has surged in recent months even as Taliban and Afghan government negotiators are meeting for peace talks in Qatar.

Efforts to rebuild Afghanistan began soon after a US- led invasion ousted the hard- line Taliban regime from power in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US.

Donor nations gather every four years to pledge aid to Afghanistan, which is almost entirely reliant on foreign assistance despite years of promised reforms and attempts to grow the economy.

The Geneva conference insisted that the gains made over the last 19 years must be secured, namely democracy, the rule of law and human rights – notably those of women, minorities and children. With the final figures still to be collated, donors had pledged more than $ 3 billion for 2021.

Annual commitments are expected to stay at that level, dependent on Kabul’s performance, said Finnish development minister Ville Skinnari, who cochaired the conference.

“This would amount to some $ 12 billion during four years.”

The previous 2016 conference in Brussels raised $ 15.2 billion.

Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar said the new figure was “impressive,” given countries are struggling with the economic crisis triggered by the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Hailing the cease- fire call, he said: “The Taliban must hear that: It’s not just the Afghan people who demand a ceasefire. It’s the whole of the world community.”

“The Taliban do know that there is no military solution to this problem,” he added.

The Taliban and the Afghan government have been engaged in peace talks in Qatar since September 12 but no progress has been announced so far. However, the negotiations in Doha are ready to advance to the next stage, sources close to the talks said Tuesday.