(AKI) - United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Thursday proposed a high-level international conference to forge a new strategy for war-torn Afghanistan. Addressing NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, she said neighbouring Pakistan and Iran would be invited but did not set a date for the meeting.
"Afghanistan is our most important ongoing operation. Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan face a common threat and have a common challenge," Clinton (photo) told ministers.
As well as Pakistan and Iran, Clinton also proposed inviting NATO allies and countries contributing troops to the international force in Afghanistan and major donors and international organisations.
She also urged NATO members to send more soldiers to combat Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, giving support to the additional 17,000 US forces which the US vowed last month to send there. "We must add resources to address the serious situation on the ground right now," Clinton said.
She said Afghanistan and Pakistan must be seen as a single strategic concern, warning that the region is "the nerve centre for extremists," who are planning fresh attacks. To this end, she called for better coordination between Washington and NATO.
| Because that's the whole problem, not enough coordination ... |
The NATO meeting reviewed the current political and military situation in Afghanistan, focusing on upcoming presidential elections scheduled for August, on the training and development Afghan security forces and on closer cooperation in Afghanistan among donors and international organisations.
Ministers agreed more effort needs to be made to train and expand Afghan security forces, especially police. Clinton called for more development aid to help achieve this. The ministers also stressed the importance for NATO of helping the Afghan government in providing the necessary security to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
Italy plans to hold a separate international meeting on Afghanistan in June in the northeastern city of Trieste, during the Italian presidency of the G8 group of top economies plus Russia. It has invited Iran to attend the conference. |