KABUL, Jan 18: Over the next few weeks Afghanistan's banking sector will move from comprising just six rundown specialist banks to one where several international commercial operations compete for business - with perhaps even an ATM machine around the corner.

The National Bank of Pakistan is the only foreign bank operating in the country, but competition is building with First Micro Finance Bank, majority-owned by the Agha Khan Fund for Economic Development, and British-based Standard Chartered preparing to open soon.

The Afghanistan International Bank (AIB), a local bank with international shareholders and ING management, and Pakistan's Habib Bank are also set to open their doors in the capital once they receive licences, all but a technicality, according to Afghanistan's central bank governor, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady. Of the existing six banks in the country, the Pashtuni Tejaraty Bank and the Milli Bank (National Bank) will be restructured.-AFP