BALKH - The Government of Denmark pledged US$ 100 million (5.2 billion Afs) in aid to Afghanistan over the next five years, a minister of Denmark who is visiting Afghanistan said in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, yesterday.

Christian Friis Bach, the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, told reporters the international community remained committed not to leave Afghanistan alone.

In line with aid pledges at the Tokyo Conference, the world would continue to provide financial support to Afghanistan, said Minister Bach after his meeting with Governor Atta Mohammad Noor.

He added that Denmark was among the countries that intended to help Afghanistan over the long haul. The next five years would determine the country’s future, he said, hoping that the Afghans would take good decisions about themselves.

The visiting minister expressed confidence that the Afghans would succeed in conducting transparent election in 2014 and protecting human rights, particularly women’s rights. His trip reflected the strong ties between the two countries, he concluded.

Source: Pajhwok News (Balkh)