London moot: Kabul looks to garner international support
Conference to broach Afghan economic progress, security issues
ISLAMABAD:
Afghanistan’s new government eyes international economic support and cooperation in the peace process at the London Conference to be held on Thursday.
Representatives of 50 countries and 15 international organizations will gather to discuss continuation of contributions to Afghanistan in the economic and development sectors.
It is being co-hosted by the governments of UK and Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah will attend from Afghanistan.
This conference is an important international event for Afghanistan under the national unity government.
The NATO foreign ministers meeting welcomed the relationship between Afghanistan and NATO beginning January 1, 2015. Afghan President and NATO secretary general expressed their decision to launch the “Resolute Support Mission” on January 1, 2015. It will be a non-combat mission.
The conference is an opportunity for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to have interaction with Afghan leaders at a breakfast meeting.
London Conference will outline their reforms agenda and strategy to curb administrative corruption and their approach towards Taliban. Growing attacks by Taliban in high security zones and on foreigners in Kabul this week have raised concerns across the world.
Afghanistan hopes to find a reconciliatory stance with the help of other countries upon this issue.
Afghan leaders will also propose donor countries to open their markets for Afghan products and investments instead of aid.
Afghan officials say Kabul will ask the international community to renew its commitments made at the Tokyo Conference. This includes contribution of four billion US dollars to Afghanistan until 2017.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2014.
Afghanistan’s new government eyes international economic support and cooperation in the peace process at the London Conference to be held on Thursday.
Representatives of 50 countries and 15 international organizations will gather to discuss continuation of contributions to Afghanistan in the economic and development sectors.
It is being co-hosted by the governments of UK and Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah will attend from Afghanistan.
This conference is an important international event for Afghanistan under the national unity government.
The NATO foreign ministers meeting welcomed the relationship between Afghanistan and NATO beginning January 1, 2015. Afghan President and NATO secretary general expressed their decision to launch the “Resolute Support Mission” on January 1, 2015. It will be a non-combat mission.
The conference is an opportunity for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to have interaction with Afghan leaders at a breakfast meeting.
London Conference will outline their reforms agenda and strategy to curb administrative corruption and their approach towards Taliban. Growing attacks by Taliban in high security zones and on foreigners in Kabul this week have raised concerns across the world.
Afghanistan hopes to find a reconciliatory stance with the help of other countries upon this issue.
Afghan leaders will also propose donor countries to open their markets for Afghan products and investments instead of aid.
Afghan officials say Kabul will ask the international community to renew its commitments made at the Tokyo Conference. This includes contribution of four billion US dollars to Afghanistan until 2017.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with the US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of the London moot is also important since both countries play a huge role in this conference.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2014.