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World urged to help Afghanistan Clinton urges Afghanistan unity
(about 11 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. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged all 70 nations attending a conference on Afghanistan's future to help the country succeed.
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. She told delegates at the one-day event in The Hague that the international effort there had been "undermanned and underfunded" over recent years.
Support for Afghan reconstruction is being sought beyond the mainly Western countries which have troops there. Among the countries to offer help has been US foe Iran.
The US is hoping Iran, among others, will show a "constructive" approach. The conference comes after the US announced a major policy rethink on its approach towards Afghanistan.
Tehran is sending a deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhoondzadeh, to the conference. The meeting, called by the UN, comes amid widespread concern that not enough progress has been made since the US-led invasion in 2001.
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 Support for Afghan reconstruction is being sought beyond the mainly-Western countries which have troops there.
"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. 'Reconciliation'
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. Mrs Clinton said that to succeed in the effort to pacify and rebuild Afghanistan, "we will need the help of all nations here".
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. Iran is fully prepared to participate in the projects Iran's deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhoondzadeh class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7973282.stm"> US strategy focus of Afghan talks
'An opening' She told delegates it was "in the interests of all of the people we represent".
Mrs Clinton said the US would contribute $40m toward holding the Afghan elections this summer. And she linked progress in Afghanistan to progress fighting extremism in Pakistan, echoing the new unified approach to the region recently announced by US President Barack Obama.
The conference is being held at the World Forum Centre in The Hague "In Afghanistan and Pakistan we face a common threat, common enemy and common task," she said - but she also pledged to offer a "an honourable form of reconciliation" to members of al-Qaeda and the Taleban who abandoned violence.
Last week, US President Barack Obama announced a fundamental rethink of US strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat an "increasingly perilous" situation. Opening the conference, Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed regional interest in his country's development.
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Relations between Mr Karzai and his US backers have seen some friction of late, after some US officials questioned the effectiveness and honesty of his government.
Mr Karzai hailed the "recognition that without the true co-operation of Afghanistan's neighbours, the victory over terrorism cannot be assured".
He highlighted in particular "the close partnership we have developed [with] the democratically-elected government of Pakistan", saying it had become "a valuable asset to the regional approach to fighting terrorism".
Awkward alliance
The presence of Iran's deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhoondzadeh, has been applauded by the US.
The US is reinforcing its troop numbers in Afghanistan
"Iran is fully prepared to participate in the projects aimed at combating drug trafficking and the plans in line with developing and reconstructing Afghanistan," he said, according to AFP news agency.
But earlier, he said Afghans held the key to the future of their nation, not the international troops fighting the Taleban.
"The presence of foreign troops can't bring the peace, security and stability to the country," he told Iranian state media.
However, the BBC's international development correspondent, David Loyn, says that behind Iran's routine criticism lays a far more nuanced approach.
Mr Akhoondzadeh said Iran had increased the capacity of the docks at Chabahar - its nearest port to Afghanistan - to allow non-military supplies to travel into Afghanistan via Iranian territory.
Our correspondent says the cautious overture by Iran comes in response to the new mood set by the Obama White House.
Obama shift
The US says it will contribute $40m (£28m) toward holding the Afghan elections this summer.
Last week, Mr 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. Special US envoy Richard Holbrooke, also attending the conference, earlier predicted it would be "the launch point for the international recommitment to the effort in Afghanistan and western Pakistan".
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." Tuesday's conference is officially billed as a "Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context".
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'
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 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."
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".
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.
"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.
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.