Russia forgives $11 bln in Afghan debt

Russia has canceled more than $11 billion in Afghanistan’s sovereign debt over the past decade, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. “During the past decade Russia has made a significant contribution to the international effort in Afghanistan. We have written off more than $11 billion of Afghanistan’s sovereign debt,” he said. Russia also provides humanitarian aid to Afghanistan - more than 40,000 tons of wheat flour and other shipments in the past decade, worth a total of around $50 million, he said. “Right at the moment 3,000 tons of wheat flour is being delivered to Afghanistan and funds have been allocated to donate 40 heavy trucks,” Lavrov said.