Donor countries and international aid organisations meet today Monday to decide their policy on future aid for Afghanistan.

The past year has seen the withdrawal of most international aid workers from the country.

They've pulled out either for security reasons or as a result of differences with the Taleban authorities over their freedom to operate.

Some agencies are however gradually beginning to work again in areas outside the capital, Kabul.

A United Nations spokesman said today's meeting, in Tokyo, would be used to try to ensure that all donors and aid organisations were taking the same approach to working with the Taleban.

The purist, Islamic Taleban's determination to keep men and women apart has led to friction between the Taleban and aid agencies who try to help Afghan women.