Afghanistan wins billions of dollars in aid pledges at Brussels meeting

Meanwhile, fighting continued in Kunduz for a third day as food was running short and scores fled for fear of more violence.

BRUSSELS // World powers pledged billions of dollars for war-ravaged Afghanistan until 2020 at talks in Brussels on Wednesday, as Afghan forces in Kunduz continued to fight off Taliban militants for the third day amid food shortages for residents.

Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani met officials from more than 70 countries and international groups, including US secretary of state John Kerry and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, at the conference.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced that the 28-nation bloc will pledge €1.2 billion (Dh4.9bn) a year and said, “I would expect similar levels of engagement from our partners.”

“There will not be any donor fatigue on Afghanistan,” she added.

Ms Mogherini said that key regional players including China, India and Pakistan met on Tuesday night and had “found common ground” for the Afghan peace process.

“The European Union will try to facilitate this as much as possible in the coming months,” she said.

Mr Kerry urged the Taliban to follow the example of notorious Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and make an “honourable” peace with the Kabul government to end years of violence.

Hekmatyar, the so-called “Butcher of Kabul” who heads the Hezb-i-Islami group and was a key figure in Afghanistan’s civil war in the 1990s, signed a peace deal with Mr Ghani in September.

“This is a model for what might be possible,” Mr Kerry added, urging Russia and Afghanistan’s neighbours to play a role.

The Taliban continue to wage a bitter insurgency almost exactly 15 years after the US-led invasion that toppled the group in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, launching a major offensive on the city of Kunduz earlier this week.

Food was running short on Wednesday as Afghan forces battled Taliban militants in Kunduz, as scores fled the strategic Afghan city fearing more violence.

Taliban militants on Monday launched an attack in Kunduz, briefly hoisting their flag at the main intersection, according to witnesses, before Afghan forces backed by Nato drove them into the outskirts.

Since late Monday, Afghan forces have been conducting a careful clearing operation, with officials warning that the militants may be hiding in civilian homes as fighting continued around the city’s edges.

“We are facing a shortage of food in the city. The prices are skyrocketing. A loaf of bread that cost 15 Afghanis (Dh0.84) is now 40 Afghanis (Dh2.23),” said a resident, Khalid.

Frightened citizens were still trying to flee amid unconfirmed reports the militants were building up their presence once more.

“Almost all the people in the city want to leave. I have been trying to find transportation for hours today, but all cars are full,” Nasirullah, waiting in the bus station with his family of five, said.

Khairuddin, a teacher in the city, said schools, universities and other private and public institutions were shut and residents were left without electricity as the main power station had been destroyed by militants.

Mahmood Danish, spokesman to the Kunduz governor, said Afghan forces were moving slowly for fear of civilian casualties.

“We have not launched the major clearance operation yet, because the enemies are hiding in people’s houses. But soon we will drive all of them out the city.”

Afghanistan remains dependent on foreign aid and a limited Nato military presence, despite having improved key life indicators including maternal mortality and lifespan.

But the brutal war in Syria and the worst migration crisis since the Second World War have left Afghanistan facing competition for dwindling international donor funds.

* Agence France-Presse