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Afghanistan conference: John Kerry renews US commitments | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has renewed US commitments to invest in Afghanistan and create a "powerhouse" region, after a conference in London. | |
Mr Kerry said he had faith in President Ashraf Ghani to create a "strong and prosperous" Afghanistan. | |
Mr Ghani was seeking guarantees from delegates that they would continue to invest after most foreign combat forces leave later this month. | |
"We will be with you every step of the way," UK PM David Cameron told him. | |
More than a decade of conflict has left Afghanistan reliant on foreign aid. | |
Taliban attacks have also been on the rise in recent weeks, and critics are questioning the ability of the Afghan security forces to maintain order. | |
Mr Ghani, who was at the conference, took over the presidency in September and vowed to bring peace. | |
The president sought endorsement at the London conference for his plan for a "transformation decade" from 2015-24. | |
He also wanted guarantees that troop withdrawals would not be followed by cuts in financial aid. | |
Mr Kerry said after the conference: "We will continue clearly to invest in Afghanistan's growth." | |
He said the "vast proportions" of Afghanistan support the president's reform plan and said it was an "extraordinary moment of transformation". | |
He added that Mr Ghani had already made ground in repairing relations with Pakistan and fighting money laundering and corruption - a major sticking point between Afghanistan and its Western donors. | |
Can pomegranates power the Afghan economy? | Can pomegranates power the Afghan economy? |
A group of British and Irish charities were at the conference to warn that a combination of cuts in their international funding and growing security fears among their staff threatened to reverse the progress that has been made. | |
In a survey released ahead of the conference, the group said three-quarters of aid organisations working in Afghanistan had seen development funding fall in the past year. | |
It said half the aid workers in Afghanistan received death threats or intimidation over the same period. | |
The Taliban have intensified attacks against foreign nationals, civilians and Afghan soldiers in recent months, raising concerns over the Afghan army's ability to protect the country from insurgents. | The Taliban have intensified attacks against foreign nationals, civilians and Afghan soldiers in recent months, raising concerns over the Afghan army's ability to protect the country from insurgents. |
The latest in a string of attacks targeted a compound used by a US-based charity on Saturday, killing three South Africans. | The latest in a string of attacks targeted a compound used by a US-based charity on Saturday, killing three South Africans. |
Last week, two American soldiers and two British embassy workers were killed in separate attacks, with dozens of Afghans also killed and injured. | Last week, two American soldiers and two British embassy workers were killed in separate attacks, with dozens of Afghans also killed and injured. |
Foreign combat troops are withdrawing at the end of the month. Some 12,000 Nato soldiers will remain for training and advisory purposes, and a separate US-led force will assist Afghan troops in some operations against the Taliban. | Foreign combat troops are withdrawing at the end of the month. Some 12,000 Nato soldiers will remain for training and advisory purposes, and a separate US-led force will assist Afghan troops in some operations against the Taliban. |
Among those attending the conference is Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. |