Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked for 50 billion dollars in aid to fund his country's reconstruction, development and the fight against poverty, corruption and Taliban insurgency in the following five years.

"The current development process that is marred by confusion and parallel structures undermines institution building," Karzai said.

Afghan refugees stand around their tent at a camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 11, 2008. Afghanistan government, in its effort to implement the Five-year Development Plan and alleviate poverty in the country, is going to appeal for 50 billion US dollars at a donors conference for Afghanistan which will be opened on Thursday in Paris with the attendance of over 60 countries and organizations.(Xinhua Photo)

"While Afghanistan needs large amounts of aid, precisely how aid is spent is just as important," he added.

Karzai said "opium is about survival" for farmers and gave them alternatives to growing opium poppies and trafficking drugs "is crucial to Afghanistan's future".

He predicted that the war against the Taliban could not end soon and his country could achievement peace by 2020.