TOKYO, Jan 20: Pakistan on Sunday supported the proposed setup of an international body in Kabul to streamline funds for Afghanistan reconstruction committed by donors.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told Kyodo News that the proposed body could go a long way in ensuring the proper use of financial help pledged at the conference.

He is leading a three-member Pakistani team to an Afghanistan reconstruction conference starting on Monday in Tokyo.

The proposal to establish such an organization was formally made by Japanese special envoy for Afghanistan Sadako Ogata and is to be debated at the Tokyo conference.

“Japan should maintain its long-term commitment and nudge other countries to continue their commitments. I believe Japan has taken on a very big role” as a host of the international conference on reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan, Ogata told a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.

The conference would also offer the first opportunity to the interim Afghan administration to present its vision as to how to rebuild the nation at an international event, conference officials said.

In the meanwhile, 59 international NGOs on Sunday shared the view that Afghan NGOs should play a key role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

They also stressed the necessity of improving the education system in Afghanistan and enabling Afghan women to be involved in the rebuilding process, said Japanese Foreign Ministry officials who organized the meeting.

Participating non-governmental organizations included 26 from Afghanistan, 13 from Japan, eight from the United States, eight from European countries, and four from Asian countries.

Afghan NGOs expressed readiness to promote reconstruction of their country in cooperation with its interim government, the official said.

—NNI