West renews it's commitments
Secretary of State John Kerry promised US and allied support for Afghanistan as the country's new leaders outlined reform plans yesterday, even as they struggled to bring peace while foreign combat forces withdraw.
"We have a government in Kabul that merits our confidence," Kerry told an international conference in London with President Ashraf Ghani and chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah.
"They can be confident of the support of the international community," he said.
The conference is not focused on new cash pledges but instead on providing a platform for Ghani and Abdullah, joined by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
It comes after the two agreed to form a national unity government in September and as US-led foreign forces end a 13-year combat mission amid a spike in Taliban attacks against international targets in Kabul.
Ghani wants to implement a national "strategy of self-reliance", including tackling corruption, improving security and governance plus boosting exports.
Kerry praised Ghani and Abdullah for putting aside their own political differences in favour of creating a united vision for Afghanistan's development, following the presidency of Hamid Karzai, in whom Western confidence wore thin.
"We are confident that the policies outlined today will result in a more stable, prosperous Afghanistan. This is really an extraordinary moment. It's a moment of transformation," Kerry said.
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