Afghanistan: Governor of Balkh Accuses Western Aid Agencies of Corruption

Afghan officials have come under heavy Western criticism of late for failing to contain corruption. Now, a regional governor in the war-ravaged country is trying to play the corruption card against the West by accusing aid agencies and non-governmental organizations of financial funny business.

Only German and Japanese outfits have clean sheets, Ustad Atta Mohammad Noor, the governor of Balkh province, was quoted as saying by the news website Afghanistan.ru on February 26.

"Western countries are spending millions of dollars, but local authorities do not know where this money goes. As a result, significant sums devoted to the restoration fund are in bank accounts abroad," Noor said at a news conference in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Noor called for the establishment of a special commission to promote transparency in aid operations.