KABUL - International aid to Afghanistan will be cut off if corruption is not checked and curtailed, said Maurits Jochems, NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, on Saturday.

In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Jochems said that, given the many humanitarian and political crisis around the world, Afghanistan could become a lost hope for many if corruption is not addressed sufficiently under the new national unity government.

In response to a question regarding if the international community would halt aid to Afghanistan if corruption goes unabated, Jochems said this: " Yes, not today or tomorrow, but eventually that will be the consequence and I think President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah understand that very well."

"So I am very hopeful that as soon as they have formed a government, they will also take this problem very seriously," he added, referring indirectly to the cabinet appointment process, which has dragged on far longer than most had hoped.

The senior civilian NATO official acknowledged that members of the international community are guilty of facilitating and exacerbating corruption in Afghanistan, but he stressed that there would be heightened scrutiny on the country in the coming years.

Jochems also called the Taliban a continued major threat to Afghanistan. He emphasized that in order to maintain peace, the Afghan government must increase military pressure to reach a political solution.

"What makes me also more optimistic are the recent visits by President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah in the region and their opening - at least their statement that they are preparing to talk to the Taliban under certain conditions - make me hopeful that, at the end of the day, a political solution will also be reached and that would be the ideal combination," Jochems said. "Reaching a political solution from a position of military strength is the way forward."

Jochems said continuing to train and equip the Afghan forces is critical for keeping the country on the track of progress. He said professionalizing the Afghan Air Force is the top priority. (Tolonews)