- Title: World powers seek more dollars to keep Afghanistan running
- Date: 4th October 2016
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE (EEAS) BUILDING PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE EEAS BUILDING
- Embargoed: 19th October 2016 20:40
- Keywords: EU US Mogherini Kerry Ghani Afghanistan donor conference
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Overseas Development Aid,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00152LDJD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met in Brussels on Tuesday (October 4) to prepare for the second day of a donors' conference expected to raise billions of dollars for Afghanistan.
It is hoped the money raised will keep the country running until 2020.
But hopes for a new start to peace talks have been overshadowed by a surge in violence by Taliban fighters.
Fifteen years after the U.S. invasion that ousted Taliban rulers harbouring militants behind the attacks on New York and Washington, Afghanistan remains reliant on international aid and faces resurgent militants that threaten its progress.
The two-day, European Union-led donor conference is seeking fresh funds, despite Western public fatigue with their governments' involvement in Afghanistan.
Around 70 governments, including the United States, Russia, Iran, China and India, are attending, with pledges to be made on Wednesday.
EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini may seek to bring together China, Iran, Russia, the United States, Pakistan and India on the sidelines of the conference in what would be the first concerted peace push since 2013. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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