US aid to Afghanistan becomes tighter

Indonesia News.Net
Saturday 21st November, 2009

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has told a defence summit in Halifax, Canada that the United States will tighten control on Afghan aid, in an effort to reduce the corruption which has become epidemic in in the war-torn nation.

He said development contracts would be carefully scrutinised before the US provided further money, in an effort to exert leverage in Afghanistan's anti-corruption effort.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai faces intense pressure to stem corruption in his country.

In the US House of Representatives on Friday, House leader, Nancy Pelosi, called Afghan President Karzai an "unworthy partner" who should not be given a large boost in either US troops or civilian aid.

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