‘At almost every conference since 9/11, international donors pledged billions of dollars to Afghanistan. We don’t know what happened to that money. We don’t even know if it has been paid. There is almost nothing to see for that amount of money,’ says a 40-year-old teacher from Kabul.
Afghans are increasingly sceptical about aid pledges and their impact. Despite the billions of dollars that have reportedly been poured into the country, their lives have changed little. Donors showcase the few roads that have been built, but many Afghans are not that upbeat about the life-changing impacts of roads. They believe that donors see road construction as a military and strategic priority. Other areas which would have a more direct impact on their lives have been neglected.
