Melbourne: Australia today said it will provide $1 billion aid to Afghanistan over four years which will be spent on rural jobs, education and developing the resource-rich nation's mining industry.
This was announced by Foreign Minister Bob Carr at Tokyo conference on Afghanistan yesterday which was also attended by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Australian news agency AAP reported.
India and other key world powers pledged a total $16 billion of aid to Afghanistan over four years but called on Kabul to crack down on corruption. Australia committed to providing around $250 million for four years from 2015-16.
Carr said he hoped aid would help lift school attendance to 10 million primary students, out of a school-age population of around 13 million.
Australia's aid will also go towards rural development including community infrastructure like footpaths, drains and canals, and agriculture. He also said that he had raised the issue of anti- corruption measures with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.
"The world is moving from 'fighting' to 'building' in Afghanistan- good news, but not without risks in the form of poor corruption controls," Carr said.
The funds will also help Afghanistan set up the regulatory framework for a viable mining industry, taking advantage of Afghanistan's reserves of iron, copper, gold and other resources.
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