Reliance on aid to be slashed: President

LONDON (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday promised to intensify efforts to combat administrative corruption if Afghanistan’s Western backers continued to provide financial assistance and military backing to his administration.

Addressing the London Conference, his first formal encounter with the countries that bankroll his government, Ghani said: “You, our partners, do not need to remind us that corruption is a problem.”

While highlighting his commitment to reform, the president referred to his decision to reopen files on the $925 million Kabul Bank scandal, on his second day in office.

A former World Bank economist who was sworn in as president more than two months ago, said a new cabinet would be appointed in “two to four weeks”. The delay has already drawn widespread criticism.

But he said: “We intend to form a cabinet within 2 to 4 weeks of returning. We are determined to bring people of competence, commitment, integrity and transparency to lead the programme of the government.”

Ghani pledged enhanced efforts at Afghanistan’s self-reliance, a cut in dependence on aid, eradication of corruption, concrete results from peace parleys with the Taliban and a whole new approach to governance.

“The world is not responsible for everything for Afghanistan. It is us who are responsible for everything. We are determined to do business differently,” the ex-finance minister remarked

He dispelled the impression that Afghanistan might collapse in the absence of global support and said the country had been there for 5,000 years, despite the many challenges it had to contend with.

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