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| World urged to help Afghanistan | World urged to help Afghanistan |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Delegates from more than 70 countries are set to meet in The Hague to discuss Afghan reconstruction, days after the US announced major policy changes. | Delegates from more than 70 countries are set to meet in The Hague to discuss Afghan reconstruction, days after the US announced major policy changes. |
| The UN called the one-day conference amid widespread concern that not enough progress had been made since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. | The UN called the one-day conference amid widespread concern that not enough progress had been made since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. |
| Support for Afghan reconstruction is being sought beyond the mainly Western countries which have troops there. | Support for Afghan reconstruction is being sought beyond the mainly Western countries which have troops there. |
| The US is hoping Iran, among others, will show a "constructive" approach. | The US is hoping Iran, among others, will show a "constructive" approach. |
| Tehran is sending a deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhoondzadeh, to the conference. | Tehran is sending a deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhoondzadeh, to the conference. |
| The launch point for the international recommitment to the effort in Afghanistan and western Pakistan How US special envoy Richard Holbrooke described the conference class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7973282.stm"> US strategy focus of Afghan talks | |
| "The fact that they accepted the invitation to come suggests that they believe there is a role for them to play and we are looking forward to hearing more about that," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters travelling with her to The Hague. | "The fact that they accepted the invitation to come suggests that they believe there is a role for them to play and we are looking forward to hearing more about that," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters travelling with her to The Hague. |
| The biggest challenge to the new initiative is that Afghanistan's regional neighbours - Iran, China, the Central Asian republics, India and Pakistan - do not all agree how to achieve Afghan stability, or even whether they should help at all, says the BBC's international development correspondent, David Loyn. | The biggest challenge to the new initiative is that Afghanistan's regional neighbours - Iran, China, the Central Asian republics, India and Pakistan - do not all agree how to achieve Afghan stability, or even whether they should help at all, says the BBC's international development correspondent, David Loyn. |
| Policy-makers in the US and the UN all agree that mistakes have been made since 2001, but do not yet agree on how they can improve the situation, our correspondent adds. | Policy-makers in the US and the UN all agree that mistakes have been made since 2001, but do not yet agree on how they can improve the situation, our correspondent adds. |
| 'An opening' | 'An opening' |
| Mrs Clinton said the US would contribute $40m toward holding the Afghan elections this summer. | Mrs Clinton said the US would contribute $40m toward holding the Afghan elections this summer. |
| The conference is being held at the World Forum Centre in The Hague | The conference is being held at the World Forum Centre in The Hague |
| Last week, US President Barack Obama announced a fundamental rethink of US strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat an "increasingly perilous" situation. | Last week, US President Barack Obama announced a fundamental rethink of US strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat an "increasingly perilous" situation. |
| He said growing radical forces in the area posed the greatest threat to the American people and the world. | He said growing radical forces in the area posed the greatest threat to the American people and the world. |
| Promising an extra 4,000 US personnel to train and bolster the Afghan army and police, he also vowed support for civilian development. | Promising an extra 4,000 US personnel to train and bolster the Afghan army and police, he also vowed support for civilian development. |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow was "ready to participate in the efforts directed at putting things in order" in Afghanistan. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow was "ready to participate in the efforts directed at putting things in order" in Afghanistan. |
| Mrs Clinton said on Monday: "I believe that there will be an opening by this conference that will enable all the countries, including Iran, to come forward with how they want to participate." | Mrs Clinton said on Monday: "I believe that there will be an opening by this conference that will enable all the countries, including Iran, to come forward with how they want to participate." |
| Special US envoy Richard Holbrooke, also attending the conference, predicted it would be "the launch point for the international recommitment to the effort in Afghanistan and western Pakistan". | Special US envoy Richard Holbrooke, also attending the conference, predicted it would be "the launch point for the international recommitment to the effort in Afghanistan and western Pakistan". |
| 'No military solution' | 'No military solution' |
| Iran's delegate said Afghans held the key to the future of their nation, not the international troops fighting the Taleban. | Iran's delegate said Afghans held the key to the future of their nation, not the international troops fighting the Taleban. |
| The US is reinforcing its troop numbers in Afghanistan | The US is reinforcing its troop numbers in Afghanistan |
| "The presence of foreign troops can't bring the peace, security and stability to the country," Mr Akhoondzadeh told Iranian state media. | "The presence of foreign troops can't bring the peace, security and stability to the country," Mr Akhoondzadeh told Iranian state media. |
| "It encourages radicalism. This policy that others decide for the Afghan nation and for the Afghan officials does not work out any more." | "It encourages radicalism. This policy that others decide for the Afghan nation and for the Afghan officials does not work out any more." |
| Tuesday's conference will be opened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | Tuesday's conference will be opened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. |
| Its subject is officially billed as a "Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context". | Its subject is officially billed as a "Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context". |
| Of 73 countries invited, only one, Uzbekistan, declined to attend. | Of 73 countries invited, only one, Uzbekistan, declined to attend. |
| "We have great expectations," Mr Karzai said after arriving on Monday night. | "We have great expectations," Mr Karzai said after arriving on Monday night. |
| "I'm sure there will be support for Afghanistan... and that together, Afghanistan and the international community will strive and succeed towards the completion of this journey together." | "I'm sure there will be support for Afghanistan... and that together, Afghanistan and the international community will strive and succeed towards the completion of this journey together." |
| Militant violence continued on Monday in Afghanistan, where a suicide bomber killed nine people in an attack on a police compound outside the southern city of Kandahar and a roadside bomb killed three police officers in the eastern province of Paktia. | Militant violence continued on Monday in Afghanistan, where a suicide bomber killed nine people in an attack on a police compound outside the southern city of Kandahar and a roadside bomb killed three police officers in the eastern province of Paktia. |
| Pakistan saw a deadly gun and bomb attack on a police academy in Lahore which left at least 18 people dead and nearly 100 injured. | Pakistan saw a deadly gun and bomb attack on a police academy in Lahore which left at least 18 people dead and nearly 100 injured. |