Afghan President fights government corruption

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has revealed new directives in the anti-terrorism field, aimed at reforming the practice of authorities in his country. According to Afghan news agency (Pajhwok Afghan News), Karzai listed good governance, an effective anti-corruption fight, rule of law and a strong economy as top priorities of his administration. High-ranking officials were ordered to refrain from nepotism and other extraneous considerations in the recruitment of technocrats and skilled experts. The Ministry of Justice was tasked with preparing draft laws governing elections and municipalities to be submitted to the Cabinet in six months. According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), more than $40 billion dollars in international civil aid have entered Afghanistan since the arrival of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the end of 2001. The impact of this aid was not up to the amounts spent, except in some areas of health and education. Due to widespread corruption, the Tokyo Conference held for donors and development in Afghanistan this July stipulated clear progress in the areas of transparency and human rights (specifically women’s) to provide Kabul with $16 billion over four years.