Berlin - Germany is to increase its development aid to Afghanistan by 52 million euros (78 million dollars), the German government said Tuesday. Afghanistan would receive a total of around 144 million euros in 2009, to help the government of President Hamid Karzai to "consistently fight corruption, improve governance and create additional jobs," a statement issued by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
The money is to be targeted at the Kunduz region in the north of the country, where Germany has up to 4,500 soldiers stationed and is responsible for regional reconstruction and development.
The ministry said the cash would help to extend a governance training programme, police training and infrastructure projects, including the building of vocational schools.
Development Minister Dirk Niebel said the money was a "downpayment" for the success of the stabilization process there.
Karzai was sworn in for a second term in government earlier this month, after a controversial re-election campaign marred by fraud.
The ministry also announced that Germany would provide an additional 10 million euros in development aid for Pakistan, "for the improvement of governance".
Niebel said that "with the broadening of our engagement in the area of good governance in Pakistan, we want to push on political and economic reforms, and support the capability of the Pakistani government to fulfill their obligations to their citizens."
