Karzai expects $4 bln in Afghan aid

President Hamid Karzai at a special session of parliament.

He says corruption in Afghanistan has reached a high, and is calling for reform.

He also said he expects international donors to pledge a total of $4 billion in aid for Afghanistan at a conference in Japan next month.

The government is under pressure from Western backers to do more to fight corruption, and reassure donors that their money will not be squandered through contract fraud and theft.

In response, Karzai called for the United States to repatriate former central bank governor Abdul Qadir Fitrat back to Afghanistan for investigation into corruption charges.

The move could improve the credibility of his anti-corruption efforts.

Sarah Sheffer, Reuters