WASHINGTON - The White House has been warned that major infrastructure projects in Afghanistan are over budget, and that many will not be completed before troop withdrawal in 2014.
A US Government watchdog says £4m of US aid money could go to waste.
Several big projects are now more than a year behind schedule, and once troops leave, there are concerns they may not see fruition.

The Kajaki Dam project, the installation of a 3rd turbine to boost power to nearly 2 million people across Helmand and Kandahar, still has not been completed 9 years after construction began. Kajaki is a Taliban stronghold, which has proved too difficult for the military to secure.

A report by a US watchdog now warns that 5 of 7 major infrastructure projects planned for last year will not deliver before troop drawdown in 2014. And £400m worth of projects could fall into disrepair once handed over to the Afghan government, because of lack of maintenance or funding.

The report says, "In some instances, these projects may result in adverse counter insurgency effects because they create an expectations gap among the affected population".

In other words, if you promise something, and then do not deliver, or it takes too long, the population will eventually stop supporting you.In response, the US military says it is never easy building in a warzone, and that they are strengthening the Afghan capacity to look after the infrastructure, once they leave. (Agencies)