Countries pledge $20b to Afghanistan reconstruction
Updated
![Hamid Karzai had asked for $50 billion over the next five years, but critics say Afghanistan doesn't have the capacity to spend money already pledged. [AFP]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/afghan_karzai_180806_afp.jpg "Hamid Karzai had asked for $50 billion over the next five years, but critics say Afghanistan doesn't have the capacity to spend money already pledged. [AFP]")
Hamid Karzai had asked for $50 billion over the next five years, but critics say Afghanistan doesn't have the capacity to spend money already pledged. [AFP]
Donors at a conference in Paris have pledged around $US20 billion to rebuild Afghanistan.
Donors from around 80 countries attended the one day conference.
The United States led the way, committing $10.2 billion, and there were big pledges from the World Bank, Britain, Japan and Europe.
Australia donated $250 million.
The Afghan President Hamid Karzai had asked for $50 billion over the next five years, arguing his country needs large amounts of aid.
But critics say Afghanistan does not have the capacity to spend the money it already has, let alone bid for more.
The meeting was not just about raising more money but trying to find a better way of improving the flow of aid.
Soldiers killed
Britain's defence ministry says two British soldiers were killed while on foot patrol in southern Afghanistan.
The two soldiers, from the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, were shot dead in an ambush near their base in Helmand Province.
Three other soldiers from the regiment were killed on Sunday in a suicide attack.
