AFGHANISTAN SUMMIT KICKS OFF IN LONDON
Baku, 28 January (AZERTAC). A summit on the future of Afghanistan has today started in London, bringing together foreign ministries from 70 countries, including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said mid-2011 should be the deadline for "turning the tide" in the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a 70-nation London summit on the future of Afghanistan, he said the nations faced “a decisive time”.
Before the talks began, President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan could need foreign support for its security forces for up to 15 years.
He later announced plans to reintegrate some Taliban fighters into society.
Foreign ministers from around the world are expected to give renewed momentum to nation-building in Afghanistan during the one-day summit.
“We must reach out to all our countrymen, especially our disenchanted brothers who are not part of al-Qaeda or other terrorist networks,” Mr. Karzai told the meeting.
Opening the conference, Mr. Brown said it marked the “beginning of the transition process”.
“By the middle of next year, we have to turn the tide in the fight against the insurgency,” he said.
Pledging support for the expansion of the Afghan security forces, Mr. Brown said: “We will agree today that the Afghan National Army will number 134,000 by October 2010, and 171,600 by October 2011”.
“And similarly today we will commit to supporting a police reform plan, with Afghan national police numbers reaching 109,000 by October this year, and 134,000 by October 2011.”
This would bring Afghan national security forces to 300,000, a presence far bigger than the coalition forces, Mr Brown said.
The talks are being hosted by the UK, UN and the Afghan government.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has named a long-serving UN diplomat, Staffan de Mistura, as his new representative in Afghanistan.
Azerbaijan`s FM Elmar Mammadyarov also attended the event.
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