Canada to spend USD 1.2 billion in Afghanistan by 2011

KABUL, Oct 7 (KUNA) — Canada will grant USD three million for preservation of a historical site in Kabul, the central capital of Afghanistan. The pledge came during a visit of two Canadian ministers here on Sunday.
During a visit to Murad Khani historical site in Kabul, Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation Gee Oda said the historical site was badly damaged during the war followed by civil strife.
He said his country would continue assisting Afghanistan in reconstruction efforts. Later, addressing a joint news conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the Canadian dignitary said they were assisting the Afghan government in reconstruction as well as on the security front.
He said the Canadian government was also helping Afghanistan in training and equipping its police force to enable it to maintain security in the country. The two ministers promised their country would spend USD 1.2 billion in different sectors in Afghanistan by 2011.
Appreciating the Canadian assistance, Afghan Foreign Minister hoped the government of Canada would continue helping Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, four police and as many militants were killed in fresh violence in southern Afghanistan.
Two police officers were killed in a landmine blast in Khost while two more policemen were perished in a Taliban attack in the remote province of Nuristan, local officials said on Sunday.
In the second clash, that occurred in Kamdesh district of Nuristan province, four militants were also killed, police in the province claimed. Taliban so far did not issue any comment.
Earlier, a NATO statement admitted that three civilians, two in the eastern Kunar province and one in the southeastern province of Paktia. A day earlier, around 3,000 residents had staged a protest demonstration in Kunar against civilian casualties in operation by foreign troops and their clashes with Taliban.
The protestors had asked the central government to remove military bases from civilian areas to avoid killing of innocent citizens in Taliban attacks and the military operations.