The West used an Afghanistan meeting on Monday to signal enduring support for Kabul as allied troops go home,but economic downturn in Europe and crises with Pakistan and Iran could stir doubts about Western resolve. The US intends to stay the course with our friends in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the conference. Hosts Germany too sought to signal Western staying power as the gathering of dozens of foreign ministers opened in the German city of Bonn. Together we have spent blood and treasure in fighting terrorism, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in opening remarks,urging the international community to stand by the country even beyond the planned US troop withdrawal in 2014. Brewing confrontations are pitting Washington against Pakistan and Iran,two of Afghanistans most influential neighbours. Pakistan boycotted the meet after a NATO aircraft killed 24 soldiers on the border with Afghanistan in a November 26 attack the alliance called a tragic accident. Pakistan wants to see a peaceful Afghanistan but after the November 26 incident,in which NATO forces directly attacked the countrys sovereignty,it was impossible for us to participate in the Conference, Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit he told state-run PTV. Pakistan knows that peace in Afghanistan is important for the stability of the region and the world, he said. But foreign governments,while regretting Pakistans absence,made clear they would press ahead in building up the Kabul governments ability to survive after 2014 even if Islamabad fails to bring insurgents into a political settlement. It may take a longer time but we should not be deterred at all by Taliban reluctance to come to the table, British Foreign Secretary William Hague told BBC. Irans growing confrontation with the West over its nuclear programme could also bleed into the war. Irans Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi Monday reiterated opposition to US keeping some forces in Afghanistan after 2014.
