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KABUL -- Representatives from more than 70 countries have decided to direct at least 50% of development aid through the Afghan government, media reported July 20.
The International Conference on Afghanistan is taking place in Afghanistan for the first time in nine years. Afghan President Hamid Karzai had urged the international community to channel more aid through the Afghan government. Currently, 20% of aid passes through the government, BBC Urdu reported.
Karzai has sought to convince international donors that the Afghan police and army will be ready to take charge of security by 2014.
“We appreciate the advances made by the national army of Afghanistan”, Karzai said to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty. “I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014”.
Karzai also said the country's police and intelligence agencies have made progress.
“Our goal is to transform the three organs of our national security forces into trusted national institutions dedicated to fulfilling their constitutional duty of ensuring the integrity and security of our country”, he said at the conference.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan supports Karzai's initiatives to establish peace.
Last month Karzai organised a peace jirga to find ways to restore peace nationwide.
“We are hopeful of the success of the local peace jirgas," Qureshi said, according to BBC Urdu.
However, he said that more efforts are need to enhance the capabilities of the Afghan security forces. “Pakistan is ready to help Afghanistan in this regard”, Qureshi said.
Earlier, a rocket attack on Kabul's airport delayed the arrival of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the foreign ministers of Sweden and Denmark.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, RFE/RL reported. Security forces haven't been idle. They have killed or detained several militants suspected of finalising plans to attack the conference, a NATO statement said.
Kabul was under lockdown as Afghan security forces, backed by NATO troops, maintained a security cordon around the conference, the statement said.
Karzai pushes for Afghanistan to secure itself by 2014
The International Conference on Afghanistan is taking place in Afghanistan for the first time in nine years. Afghan President Hamid Karzai had urged the international community to channel more aid through the Afghan government. Currently, 20% of aid passes through the government, BBC Urdu reported.
Karzai has sought to convince international donors that the Afghan police and army will be ready to take charge of security by 2014.
“We appreciate the advances made by the national army of Afghanistan”, Karzai said to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty. “I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014”.
Karzai also said the country's police and intelligence agencies have made progress.
“Our goal is to transform the three organs of our national security forces into trusted national institutions dedicated to fulfilling their constitutional duty of ensuring the integrity and security of our country”, he said at the conference.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan supports Karzai's initiatives to establish peace.
Last month Karzai organised a peace jirga to find ways to restore peace nationwide.
“We are hopeful of the success of the local peace jirgas," Qureshi said, according to BBC Urdu.
However, he said that more efforts are need to enhance the capabilities of the Afghan security forces. “Pakistan is ready to help Afghanistan in this regard”, Qureshi said.
Earlier, a rocket attack on Kabul's airport delayed the arrival of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the foreign ministers of Sweden and Denmark.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, RFE/RL reported. Security forces haven't been idle. They have killed or detained several militants suspected of finalising plans to attack the conference, a NATO statement said.
Kabul was under lockdown as Afghan security forces, backed by NATO troops, maintained a security cordon around the conference, the statement said.
Karzai pushes for Afghanistan to secure itself by 2014