Japan to earmark 1.2 bil. yen to support Afghan national army

+

TOKYO, Dec. 17 Kyodo -
The Japanese government decided Thursday to earmark 1.2 billion yen for the
Afghan national army as part of its efforts to support the reconstruction of
the conflict-ravaged country, government officials said.
The aid is part of the 50 billion yen aid for Afghanistan that the government
decided to include in an extra budget plan for fiscal 2009, with the use
limited to medical areas such as purchases of medicine or medical equipment.
The 1.2 billion-yen-aid would be offered through a fund of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, they said.
The United States has apparently been expecting such aid, with Defense
Secretary Roberts Gates saying during his visit to Japan in October that the
''real need is for financial support for the expansion and sustainment of the
Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police.''
The second extra budget for the year through March 31 was approved by Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet on Tuesday.
Of the 50 billion yen allocated for supporting Afghanistan, 19.3 billion yen
would be for security measures, including paying the wages for police officers,
10.3 billion yen for vocational training for former Taliban soldiers and other
purposes, and 20.4 billion yen for such purposes as refugee assistance.
The latest move follows the Japanese government's decision in November to
extend up to $5 billion in civilian aid to Afghanistan in about five years from
2009.
==Kyodo
2009-12-17 22:56:11