Afghan President Hamid Karzai told an international donor conference in Kabul on July 20 that he is determined to have Afghan forces in charge of the country's security by 2014.
Mr. Karzai also urged international partners to allow the Afghan government to have more control of aid money coming into the country.
Present at the one-day conference in the Afghan capital were representatives from at least 60 countries and organizations.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told delegates that the United States is encouraged by work the Afghan government has done to improve governance and combat corruption, but said much work remains.
She said the United States will continue to assist Afghanistan well beyond the Obama administration's July 2011 target for beginning to withdraw U.S. forces. She also stressed that the rights of women in Afghanistan must not be sacrificed in pursuit of reconciliation with the Taliban.
The Afghan government has developed a plan aimed at re-integrating Taliban fighters who agree to lay down their weapons, renounce al-Qaida and accept Afghanistan's constitution.
Secretary Clinton said the program has created a useful framework, but that progress will depend on whether insurgents wish to comply with the conditions.
Earlier the same day, Clinton met with Afghan women leaders. She said she announced U.S. support for several new programs designed to improve maternal health services.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who co-hosted the conference with President Karzai, appealed for unity among the Afghan people and called on the Afghan government to protect human rights and hold those responsible for rights violations accountable.
Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who ran against Mr. Karzai in last year's controversial presidential election, said the Afghan people need transparency in whatever actions are taken. He said they want a lasting peace, not a never-ending lineup of international conferences and communiqués.
Present at the one-day conference in the Afghan capital were representatives from at least 60 countries and organizations.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told delegates that the United States is encouraged by work the Afghan government has done to improve governance and combat corruption, but said much work remains.
She said the United States will continue to assist Afghanistan well beyond the Obama administration's July 2011 target for beginning to withdraw U.S. forces. She also stressed that the rights of women in Afghanistan must not be sacrificed in pursuit of reconciliation with the Taliban.
The Afghan government has developed a plan aimed at re-integrating Taliban fighters who agree to lay down their weapons, renounce al-Qaida and accept Afghanistan's constitution.
Secretary Clinton said the program has created a useful framework, but that progress will depend on whether insurgents wish to comply with the conditions.
Earlier the same day, Clinton met with Afghan women leaders. She said she announced U.S. support for several new programs designed to improve maternal health services.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who co-hosted the conference with President Karzai, appealed for unity among the Afghan people and called on the Afghan government to protect human rights and hold those responsible for rights violations accountable.
Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who ran against Mr. Karzai in last year's controversial presidential election, said the Afghan people need transparency in whatever actions are taken. He said they want a lasting peace, not a never-ending lineup of international conferences and communiqués.
VOVNews/VOANews
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