NATO allies and partners on Tuesday gathered at a plenary meeting of the Afghan National Army Trust Fund Board and reviewed the implementation of their financial contributions in support to the Afghan security forces.
In a statement, the alliance said that the meeting discussed contributions for 2021 and reiterated their commitment to providing financial support to the Afghan security forces through 2024.
“Today’s commitments help underpin the confidence that our financial support to the Afghan security forces will continue to be strong beyond 2020. International funding support to the Afghan forces is a key pillar of our commitment to Afghan security.
As of 5 October 2020, total cumulative contributions made to the Trust Fund since its establishment amounted to over 3,2 billion US dollars, the NATO secretary general pointed out.
The NATO-run Afghan National Army Trust Fund was created in 2007. It has since played a vital role in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainment of the Afghan security forces by funding activities ranging from installation of donated equipment to training, literacy courses, professional military education, and capacity building.
The Trust Fund is open for contributions by the broader international community. It is one of three funding streams used by the international community to channel its financial support to Afghanistan’s security forces and institutions.
The other two are the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA), administered by the United Nations Development Programme, and the United States Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF).
However, The United Kingdom (UK), reaffirming its ongoing support for Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, has pledged £70m for 2021 to strengthen their work.
The aid was pledged at the ANATF Plenary Meeting in Brussels on Monday, a statement from the British embassy in Kabul said.
It said Afghanistan is currently experiencing appalling levels of violence, despite the long-awaited peace talks beginning in Doha.
“We strongly condemn the high levels of Taliban violence, in particular the offensive in Helmand which has forced thousands of innocent civilians to flee their homes.”
The statement urged all sides to work for a ceasefire. “This UK funding – along with other donors – will provide financial, technical, and expert assistance to the Afghan security forces, strengthening their vital work to set Afghanistan on a path to lasting peace and stability.”
