KABUL (Pajhwok) – Denmark would provide Afghanistan $150 mln in fresh aid for various welfare projects over the next two years, officials said on Monday. To the effect, Danish Minister of Trade and Development Cooperation Mogens Jensen signed an agreement with Afghan Deputy Finance Minister Shafiq Ahmad Qarizada in Kabul.

Mogens Jensen

A statement from the Presidential Palace said Mogens also called on President Ashraf Ghani. The visiting dignitary welcomed the president’s efforts at ensuring good governance and combating administrative graft. He also praised Afghanistan’s recent move to ban torture in all its forms in the country’s prisons.

President Ghani expressed gratitude for Denmark’s cooperation in agriculture and education sectors of Afghanistan and praised the sacrifices the Danish troops had offered in the country against terrorism.

Ghani said the unity government was committed to fighting corruption. “We are evaluating the performance of government officials and have developed a realistic system in this regard.”

The president said the government was also working on a system to channel foreign funds to necessity-based projects.

Since 2001, the Royal Danish Army has been involved in the War in Afghanistan as part of the ISAF. The Royal Danish Army with the British Army have been involved in clashes with the Taliban in the Helmand Province. Denmark had two of their F 16s in the Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan to support their forces in Afghanistan.

In 2005, the Folketing approved 670 mln DKK, to the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Denmark has supported Afghanistan with education and democratisation. Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees was created to support the Afghans, who had fled to Pakistan and Iran. Danish assistance to Afghanistan amounts $80 mln each year.