TOKYO (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai is urging the international community not to abandon his country.
He spoke at a gathering in Tokyo of international donors who are pledging $16 billion in development aid for Afghanistan over the next four years, when most foreign troops will be leaving. The United States and about 70 other countries and organizations at the conference are setting aid levels for that period.
In his opening statement, Karzai asked for the country's "friends and partners" to reassure the Afghan people "that you will be with us."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Obama administration is looking to sustain U.S. assistance for Afghanistan at about the average amount that has been given over the last decade. It's ranged from $1 billion to this year's high of $2.3 billion.
Japan, the second-biggest donor, says it will provide up to $3 billion through 2016.
The donors are expected to set up monitoring measures to make sure the aid is used for development, and that it isn't wasted by corruption or mismanagement.
%@AP Links
022-a-11-(Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in remarks)-"intensify our cooperation"-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the groundwork is being laid for a long-term partnership between the U.S. and Afghanistan. (7 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *022 (07/07/12)>> 00:11 "intensify our cooperation"
023-a-12-(Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in remarks)-"into the future"-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan will continue after the military operation ends. (7 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *023 (07/07/12)>> 00:12 "into the future"
GRAPHICSBANK: Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State, speaks during a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Kabul, Afghanistan, graphic element on gray (7 Jul 2012)
APPHOTO XKAN111: Afghan President Hamid Karzai gestures while posing for a group photo with participants of an international conference on Afghan civilian assistance, at a hotel in Tokyo on Sunday, July 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (8 Jul 2012)
<<APPHOTO XKAN111 (07/08/12)>>
APPHOTO XKAN110: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, left, greets U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as they gather for a group photo of participants of an international conference on Afghan civilian assistance, at a hotel in Tokyo on Sunday, July 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (8 Jul 2012)
<<APPHOTO XKAN110 (07/08/12)>>
