IMF, World Bank cancel $1.6 bn in Afghan debt

Afghanistan has received $1.6 billion in debt relief from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Paris Club of creditors, the three groups said Tuesday.

The announcement comes as government delegations from more than 60 countries were to gather in London later this week for a conference on military and civilian aid to Afghanistan.

The IMF and World Bank said Afghanistan completed the long-running debt relief process by carrying out "a number of important reforms despite an extremely challenging environment characterized by insecurity, a food crisis, and a difficult political situation."