Donor nations gathering in Japan this
weekend for a conference on Afghanistan are expected to pledge a total 15 billion dollars in development aid through 2015. Quoting diplomatic sources, Japan's Kyodo news agency said that the participants will commit to ensuring the sustainable development of Afghanistan during the so-called transformation decade of 2015-2024.

The Tokyo conference, to be held on Sunday will bring together UN chief Ban
Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and senior officials from about 70 countries as well as international
organisations.In exchange for the development aid, Afghanistan will
promise to eradicate corruption, improve its legal system, strengthen its finances and carry out a range of other reforms.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said this week his country needs a combined 3.9 billion dollars from the international
community every year to rebuild the economy starting from 2015, following the pullout of NATO forces.