By Abdul Haleem
KABUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The international community in a key meeting on Afghanistan concluded in Brussels on Wednesday pledged a package of 15.2 billion U.S. dollars as a new commitment to support sustainable economic development, strengthening security, improving living conditions and empowering women in the militancy-plagued country, for the next four years beginning 2017.
In the two-day major conference attended by delegates from more than 70 countries and 25 international agencies, the participants recognized Afghanistan's achievements over the past 15 years, but stressed the need for sustainable progress through state building and good governance.
Welcoming the new commitment made in Brussels, Afghan analysts maintained that a new aid package of around 3.5 billion U.S. dollars annually to Afghanistan over the next four years, speaks of the international community's firm support of Afghanistan in the years ahead.
"Certainly, announcing more than 15 billion U.S. dollars to support the state building process and good governance in Afghanistan over the next four years is a strong message to the region that Afghanistan is still a focal point of the global community who will continue to stand alongside Afghans," political analyst General (Rtd) Atiqullah Omarkhil told Xinhua.
The insurgency-plagued and foreign aid-dependent nation is still among the poorest countries in the world, and the Taliban and link-minded extremist groups including al-Qaida and the Islamic State outfit, according to observers, have been fighting to establish their reign here to use the war-torn country as a springboard for destabilizing global order.
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