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Nato to discuss Afghan funding
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0418/breaking1.html
?ts=1334756038
An Afghan policeman stands guard after a battle with Taliban insurgents who took over a building in Kabul on Monday. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters
The United States will seek more pledges from Nato member countries today toward the goal of raising €1 billion a year that would help Afghanistan pay for its security forces, according to a US defence official.
The United States is making progress in getting commitments for the funds and will seek to line up more pledges when the defence and foreign ministers of Nato allies meet in Brussels today, according to the official.
The official declined to say how much money has been pledged. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plan to attend the session being held in Brussels and the next day to prepare for a Nato summit in Chicago next month.
The United States estimates the cost of maintaining the Afghan army and police at $4 billion (€3 billion) to $6 billion a year, depending on the size of the force. The goal is to raise the €1 billion a year from allies to supplement funding from the United States and the Afghan government as the coalition draws down its forces.