PM Brown: London conference marks "the beginning of the transition process" where Afghans will take greater responsibility for security; UN Chief calls for a coherent political strategy;
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  • British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that the London conference on Afghanistan which began on January 28 marked "the beginning of the transition process" under which responsibility for security will gradually be transferred to the Afghans. The communique released at the end of the conference states that Afghan forces will take control of security "as rapidly as possible…” and that the discussions marked a "decisive step towards greater Afghan leadership to secure, stabilise and develop Afghanistan".1

    UN Chief Ban Ki-moon called for a coherent political strategy to assist the country in its quest for peace, security and development.2 President Karzai on his part urged the participants, especially Western nations to “reach out to all of our countrymen, especially our disenchanted brothers who are not part of Al-Qaeda.”3 President Obama, delivering his first State of the Union Address, expressed optimism about the outcome of the London conference.4 External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna stated that for Afghanistan to be stabilized, “it is essential for neighbouring and regional countries to ensure that support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations is ended forthwith.” He also announced two initiatives to assist the Afghans in the agricultural sector.5

    Representatives of participating nations welcomed the Afghan government’s plans to persuade moderate Taliban fighters to renounce violence and pledged at least $500 million for the Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund.6 British Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated that $140 million was pledged for the first year.7 The number of Afghan security forces is also intended to be increased to about 300,000 by October 2011.

    Ahead of the London conference, the UN Security Council’s al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee approved the de-listing of Wakeel Ahmed Mutawakil, Faiz Mohammad Faizan, Maulvi Abdul Hakim Monib, Shamsus Safa Aminzai and Muhammad Musa Hotak.8 President Karzai also attended a meeting in Ankara hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul before the London conference. Other participants included Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, British foreign secretary David Miliband and senior officials from Iran, China, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and observers from the United States, Russia and international organisations.9

    Meanwhile, former UN envoy to Iraq Staffan de Mistura was appointed as the new UN Envoy for Afghanistan even as reports indicated that the outgoing special envoy Kai Eide has held secret talks with Taliban commanders in UAE.10 The Taliban however denied the development.11

    In other developments, Afghanistan won $1.6 billion in debt relief from the World Bank, IMF and other creditor nations. The IMF and World Bank in a statement announced that Afghanistan had successfully carried out a debt cancellation program, including economic reforms, despite "an extremely challenging environment characterized by insecurity, a food crisis, and a difficult political situation."12

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