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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Afghanistan conference: John Kerry renews US commitments | Afghanistan conference: John Kerry renews US commitments |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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 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. | 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. | "We will be with you every step of the way," UK PM David Cameron told him. |
| Addressing the conference later, Mr Ghani pledged to continue reforms, saying that "history will not be repeated, we've overcome our past". | |
| More than a decade of conflict has left Afghanistan reliant on foreign aid. | 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. | 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 took over the presidency in September and vowed to bring peace. | |
| The president sought endorsement at the 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. | 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." | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Among those attending the conference is Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. |