Laura Bush pledges $10.2 bn for Afghanistan

The US First Lady says Afghanistan has reached "a decisive moment for its future" and has confirmed that the United States is pledging US$10.2 billion in aid.

US First Lady Laura Bush says world donors must not turn their backs on Afghanistan. She says Afghanistan has reached "a decisive moment for its future" and has confirmed that the United States is pledging US$10.2 billion in aid at a donors conference in Paris.

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Mrs. Bush opened on Thursday's conference along with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Afghan government is hoping to secure US$15 billion to US$20 billion at the conference.