Japan pledges additional $ 22 million to Afghanistan

The government of Japan has pledged $ 22 million for economic and cultural programs in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister considers Japan one of the biggest donors for Afghanistan; citing Japan’s assistance to Afghanistan have reached to $ 7 billion from the year 2001 to 2017.

While signing the accord with Japanese ambassador to Kabul, Afghan foreign minister called for the continuation of aids to Afghanistan.

“These aids help us for self-sufficiency and we demand the long-term cooperation of the Japanese government with Afghanistan. We hope Japan will have an important role in Brussels summit for Afghanistan,” Salahuddin Rabani, foreign minister said.

Japan has been providing development support to Afghanistan in many areas including security, health, culture, humanitarian assistance, education, agriculture, infrastructure and capacity development.

Meanwhile, Japan’s ambassador to Kabul stressed on the continuation of  his country’s cooperation with Afghanistan.

“We are committed in cooperation with Afghanistan and we hope our assistance will solve parts of Afghanistan problems,” Hiroshi Takahashi, Japan’s ambassador for Afghanistan said.

Japan has funded various other facilities in the province including the Murwarid Canal, Qasimabad waterhead, Kashkatan canal, buildings for public schools and roads in rural areas.