International community supports phased Afghan control over security

At the Kabul conference yesterday the international community expressed its support for President Karzai's objective that the Afghan National Security Forces should lead and conduct all military operations in all provinces of Afghanistan by 2014.

The Kabul International Conference, hosted by the Government of Afghanistan and the UN, took place Tuesday 20 July 2010.

It was attended by representatives from around 70 partner countries including the UK, international and regional organisations and financial institutions.

The conference was opened by President Hamid Karzai, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Rassoul and UN Special Representative Staffan de Mistura.

Foreign Secretary William Hague meets Provincial Governor Nuristani in Herat, Afghanistan, ahead of Tuesday's conference

The communiqué issued from the conference states:

"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the international community held a historic meeting today in Kabul to renew their commitment to the Afghan people.

"The Conference marked a new phase in their partnership, the Kabul Process, and a heightened commitment to a secure, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan."

The communiqué goes on to define measurable benchmarks for the Afghan government's programme on areas including Governance; Rule of Law; Human, Gender and Children's Rights; Economic and Social Development; Regional Cooperation; and Counter-Narcotics.

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Pictures: Crown Copyright & Eric Kanalstein/United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)]

Ministers 'united' on Afghanistan

UK ministers have put on a united front after Defence Secretary Liam Fox suggested the focus in Afghanistan should move away from reconstruction.

William Hague and Hamid Karzai took part in discussions

He had said troops were there for UK security not for "the education policy in a broken 13th-century country".

But after talks with Afghan leaders in Kabul he and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell both stressed their commitment to redevelopment.

Foreign Secretary William Hague refused to set a date for UK troop withdrawal.

Before the talks, which took place on an unprecedented trip to Afghanistan by the three Cabinet ministers, Dr Fox argued in the Times newspaper that British troops were not in the country to fix Afghan society.

'Strong words'

"We have to reset expectations and timelines," he said. "National security is the focus now. We are not a global policeman. We are not in Afghanistan for the sake of the education policy in a broken 13th-century country. We are there so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened."

The BBC's Mark Dummett in Kabul said these were "strong words" from Dr Fox that signalled the new administration was considering a different approach to the war from its Labour predecessors.

But in a separate interview, Mr Mitchell said creating a stable society in Afghanistan was "absolutely crucial".

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