Iran pledges another $100m aid to Afghanistan

London, Feb 2, IRNA-Iran vowed at the end of Conference on Afghan Reconstruction to donate another $100 million aid to Afghanistan from the beginning of the next Iranian year (to start March 21, 2006).

At the end of the two-day meeting in London, representatives of over 60 nations and world organizations committed to allocate an over $10 billion assistance to Afghanistan's reconstruction projects during the coming five years.

As one of the major donor states, Iran had primarily allocated a $570 million aid to Afghanistan reconstruction plans in a conference in Berlin, Germany, four years ago.

It was reported at the end of London conference that the last installment of Iran's $570-million donation to Afghanistan ($50m) will be paid before the end of the current Iranian year (to end on March 20, 2006).

Afghanistan's Finance minister Anwar Ul-Haq Ahady told IRNA on the sidelines of the London conference that Iranian officials have also pledged to allocate an extra aid to Afghanistan more than the promised $100-million.

Noting that Tehran has so far, fulfilled its previous commitments in a very acceptable way, Ahady stressed that Afghan people would never forget the support of their "friendly" neighbor, Iran.