NATO has approved about $390 million in trust fund to support Afghan armed forces 12412162

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Defence & Security News - Afghanistan
 
NATO has approved about $390 million in trust fund to support Afghan armed forces.
NATO has approved about 390 million U.S. dollars in a trust fund implementation plan to support the Afghan force, the organization said in a press release on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. As of June 2016, the total cumulative amount of contributions made to the ANA Trust Fund amounts to over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.
     
NATO has approved about 390 million U.S. dollars in a trust fund implementation plan to support the Afghan force, the organization said in a press release on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. As of June 2016, the total cumulative amount of contributions made to the ANA Trust Fund amounts to over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. Afghan National Army (ANA) cadets practice drills on the parade grounds at the Afghan National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 7, 2013. The university trained future ANA officers. (Image Wikimedia)
     
According to a NATO statement, the 2017 NATO ANA (Afghan National Army) Trust Fund Implementation Plan will fund more than 37 projects for critical sustainment of the Afghan Army, including salaries and incentive pay, infrastructure sustainment, logistic sustainment and more.

The statement further added that funding also covers medical supplies and training, along with gender programs such as pediatrics and women’s wellness clinics. It also covers scholarship programs for women in the ANA, among others.

Welcoming the adoption of the 2017 Afghan national army trust fund implementation plan last week, Marion Aubry, spokesperson for the NATO senior civilian representative, said, "This highlights the continued commitment of NATO allies and partners to support the financial sustainment of the Afghan national defense and security forces."

At Warsaw summit in July, NATO allies decided to continue the resolute support mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016 and confirmed funding for Afghan forces until 2020.

The Afghanistan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund was created in 2007 to provide a mechanism for ISAF nations to support the transportation and installation of equipment donated by ISAF nations, to purchase equipment and services for ANA engineering projects, and to support in and out-of-country training.