More funding for Afghan peace efforts expected: US envoy‎

MADRID — More funds for Afghanistan's plan to reintegrate Taliban fighters who renounce violence are expected to be pledged next month at a conference in Kabul, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said Monday.

The July 20 conference is a follow-up to a London summit in January, when donors pledged an initial 140 million dollars (100 million euros) to a so-called Afghanistan Peace and Reconciliation Programme trust fund financed by Japan, the United States, Britain and others.

"Almost 200 million dollars has been committed under a programme led by the Japanese, which is its largest contributor, and there will more developments on this at the Kabul conference," Holbrooke said, without specifying a sum.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to attend the international conference in Kabul along with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Western diplomats.

Holbrooke was in Madrid for an informal meeting of special representatives for Afghanistan from more than 30 countries and organisations. .... More funding for Afghan peace efforts expected: US envoy‎

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