This is welcome news, since the widespread graft, permeating almost all levels of the administrative setup, is held responsible for the failure to establish effective 
governance to date.

US Secretary Defense Robert Gates recently noted the need to tighten control on financial assistance by international donors. This denotes a discernible shift in US policy, and echoes Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s earlier comments. On her visit to Kabul for the presidential inauguration, Clinton had said that the US and other international partners will ensure that the funds for Afghanistan are “accounted for and used 
as intended”.

Lack of control and monitoring has obviously led to a gradual and sustained pilfering of vital funds by elements — within local and international groups entrusted with implementation —  on the Afghan side. Now this is the responsibility of the contractors, who need to be mindful when appropriating funds for different projects.  What is surprising is that eight years down the line, Washington has woken up to the fact that it needs to tighten the reins at the other end.

A conflict ridden country, Afghanistan has inevitably drawn millions of dollars in assistance from the international community.  Already, the other major complaint is that a large portion of funds meant for development work and reconstruction usually flow back to foreign consultancies of the coalition states. This is why there are few results, with Afghans complaining about receiving negligible benefits from the grand projects aimed at improving their lives and providing vital means of livelihood.  Thus, on top of foreign consultancies drawing back assistance funds is corruption that has 
thwarted implementation. 

So far the US and other allies had been berating President Karzai for not doing anything about blatant corruption within the government and among his political allies who were, more or less, given a free hand.  It was obviously not acceptable but was largely ignored for the sake of political expediency by Kabul and, more importantly, by Washington. It had  a profound impact on governance and led to a rapid erosion of central authority and control.  But to presume that Washington was not aware of the goings-on at the other end of the assistance chain is not credible.

With Karzai having turned the guns on corruption, the efforts to support Kabul in the endeavour is a positive sign.  Regrettably, it is being done at a late stage, but it has at least gained attention. It is hoped that this leads to a positive outcome, one that will benefit the Afghan people.