Clinton at Afghan talks as aides play down Pakistan boycott
Clinton will meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan officials at a conference in Bonn that is also aimed at ensuring international financial and technical support continues after the troops withdraw in 2014.
The chief US diplomat will also meet her German and other counterparts from 100 countries and international organizations, but not from Afghanistan's key neighbor Pakistan, which announced a boycott after a deadly Nato bombing raid.
Clinton has voiced regret over the decision because she said Pakistan has a stake in a secure and stable Afghanistan, but aides travelling with her denied Pakistan's absence would undermine the conference.
Analysts have said the absence undermines efforts to promote peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban but US officials said neither Washington nor Kabul had current high expectations for reconcilation.
"I don't think it (the boycott) will impact the conclusions of the conference in any way," a senior State Department official told reporters on the condition of anonymity during the flight to Bonn from Washington on Sunday.
"We're all anticipating they (the Pakistanis) will continue to play an important role moving foreward. I wouldn't read too much into their non appearance tomorrow (Monday)," the official said.
The official instead hailed an Afghan economic strategy which will be unveiled at the conference and which he said shows the Karzai government wishes to take charge of its economic future.
"It's quite sober. It's very clear-eyed. It makes a series of specific commitments that they would like to move forward on, on legal and regulatory reforms," he said.
US officials have long pressed Afghanistan to root out corruption and establish a clear legal and regulatory framework to promote development and boost stability.
The United States plans to distribute in Bonn its own economic strategy for Afghanistan which stresses support for key sectors like agriculture, light manufacturing as well as mining and services, including banking.
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The same place where empty slogan of independence made 10 years ago and puppet regime installed. Now they gather to make request to the same people to let us join back ie taliban. So what does it mean for the international community? What they got of there 10 years brutality and repression? what they have offered to afghan people and what they have to offer? I am in no doubt that they added in their miseries. What they have done is only deepen the canon smoke. What they can offer is to left this ill_fated nation to much chaos and anarchy. They will leave tomorrow and the puppets will follow. Nothing will be change there but the same civil war and each will be happy to blame pakistan for no reason.
@Pundit: Look who is talking? The usual bad mouthing of Pakistan. These Indian geazers have nothing better to do other than bad mouthing Pakistan??
@fahim: You should remember as an Afhani that this cry baby country is harbrouing 6 millon of your Afghan brehtern. You should be thankful that Pakistan is not treating Afghanis as Iranian treats them and keeps them under a check. Do not bite the hand that feeds you Sir.
The world needs a Bonn Conference on Pakistan, that sets the path and strategy to eliminate safe havens for terrorists from Pakistan and to turn Pakistan around from the path of religious extermism that it has adopted.
Without Pakistan’s cooperation, Mr. Barack Obama knows very well that after the exit of US soldiers, Hamid Karzai wont remain President of Afghanistan and the Afghan government will be toppled by Taliban again.
If US want to see a democratic set up in Afghanistan, it should go according to the advice of the Government of Pakistan and should not dictate as why our government should do and should not do.
Pakistan is the next door neighbour of Afghanistan and not the US. So how US would know what should be done to keep Afghanistan safe and sound.
Listen to our advice instead of advising us.
@syed baqar ahsan: So then, by that logic, you guys shouldn't complain when people treat you as an enemy. Calling yourselves the "key" to peace also implies you're aware of your actions intentionally keeping the region chaotic. Good luck getting even 1% of the things you've been acting like you're entitled to in terms of your desired position in the region all this time post-withdrawal.
The ISI has the monopoly on the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. As "neither Washington nor Kabul had current high expectations for reconcilation", It must deem attending the conference in Bonn as insignificant. The ISI knows its influence on the Haqqani network and plays by its own rules.
@fahim....I think giving more damage to your enemy than yourself is a good strategy to follow in the wake of the slow and sure in increase in in the intensity of violations neing made by NATO.....Well....everyone can have his own viewpoint but let the 100 or so countries decide and move forward..Since Afghans dont need us anymore so why Karai keeps on complaining that Pakistan doesnt cooperate in negotiations with Taliban...If NATO doesnt need us why dont they carry all of their supplies from northern route....If US doesnt need us why do they use our logistic support...the fact is that they all need us but they are reluctant to admit it....
@Zulfiqar Baig: Even with Pakistan its Just a Tea Party!
I think Pakistan should attend the conference. withdrawl is a reactive attitude. this will not benefit Pakistan.
It is indeed a very good decision and I hope Pakistani Govt stays on its decision of boycotting Bonn Conference. At this moment US led NATO and ISAF are in frustration of having suffered enormous numbers of causalities in Afghanistan and are now seeking a respectable escape from there. Pakistani govt has already ordered them to vacate Shamsi Base which will bleed them more. Wish all the best to Pakistan.
Strange Bonn conference is a rubber stamp for what the council of foriegn realations and wall street decide Hamid Karzai the mayor of Kabul should know his place
Bonn Conference without Pakistan will be a just tea party..
No matter 100 countries get-to-gether for peace but "Key" to success for peace in Afghanistan lies with Pakistan, its Strategic-Geo-Political location is well known to those who denying being big in stature only,fact of the matter doesn't change with their tall claims.
who cares about Pak any more which is considered as a cry baby or a trouble maker. Even Afghans boo at us wherever possible. Very shamful of a failing country without any international respect or negotiation weight left. We seem to hide behind masters in china for self assurance at every step.
Afghanistan have a vital role for pakistan but there r many issues to be discussed as the recent era of nato attacks and should resolve the issues for making secure borderd and there is a lot of vacant areas to be discussed like literacy health soverenity for women and security issues now dr hamid karzai should take realistic steps to make good relations
Pakistan would not be interested to take an initiative any more in the development of Afghanistan, as we have our own problems and priority for Government of Pakistan is to solve the issues of Pakistanis and not of Afghans.
The first priority of Pakistani Government is to clean up the mess from the country by sending each and every Afghan National back to Afghanistan who crossed the borders of Pakistan during Soviet Union’s invasion on Afghanistan including their children who have acquired the Pakistan’s identity.
The Government of Pakistan would like to put Pakistan on the road of success and it will not be possible for the government to achieve its goals and target unless each and every foreign national who have been provided the registration card will return to his or her native countries.
Pakistan and Pakistani have a bright future. The government is committed to the welfare of a common man and we have to look after their problems in order to raise the per capita income of an ordinary Pakistan.
The priority set now by the Government of Pakistan is that there will be no preference for any foreign national over a Pakistani.
When we will put the country on the right track, foreign investments will flow automatically. The rules of investments will also be set keeping in view of the priority of an ordinary man.
Vienna,December 5,2011 Three years ago Pakistan with its out reach through various fake "world security networks" had painted Dr.Hamid Karzai as a devil and monster at that.That has turned a full circle and now Pakistan is on stage as on that role.It is Afghanistan´s chance and Pakistan is set down the road of decline,friends and good will wise.Good time for Pakistan to rewrite the ground rules unilaterally from a position of strength.Can Pakistan hand pick friends who have no private contract arrangements with CIA? Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna