Afghan corruption has doubled since 2007: Survey

KABUL - Corruption in Afghanistan has doubled since 2007, with nearly $1 billion in bribes paid by Afghans last year alone, according to a survey released Thursday.

“The findings from the survey show that bribery has doubled since 2007 and puts the financial burden on the GDP close to $1 billion,” the Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA), a non-profit corruption watchdog said.

More than a quarter of households said they had paid a bribe to receive public service, it said, adding that more than a quarter of respondents said they did not have access to justice and security because of corruption.

Half of the 6,500 Afghan adults interviewed for the survey said corruption fostered the expansion of the Taliban in country, while one-third said it caused conflict at local level, mainly related to land issues, IWA said.

The new finding is reported amid increased pressure by Western countries, mainly the US, on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to clamp down on endemic graft in his administration.

The US and NATO troops are boosting the total number of their forces to 150,000 in the coming weeks in a bid to turn the tide of the war against the Taliban militants, who are stronger than ever.

But the NATO and US officials have said their military surge would not work if the Afghan government fails to contain corruption.

Karzai’s government has been urged by its main international backers to clear itself of officials in the rural areas who are believed to be the main factor for the public to distrust their government and instead ask the Taliban for justice.

“The survey shows that the highest corruption burden is carried by the poorest, mainly in rural areas, indicating a threat to the poverty reduction efforts,” IWA said.

“The exclusion of citizens from public services, creation of conflict and erosion of state legitimacy are the main consequences of corruption.”

Karzai has repeatedly pledged and announced new ways to end the official graft, including boosting the powers of the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption, but observers said that they have seen little in practice.

Afghanistan has been ranked by Transparency International as the second most corrupt country in the world after Somalia.