ROME: Global powers on Monday gave their backing to Afghanistan’s efforts to negotiate with the Taliban and set conditions for the gradual handover of power from foreign troops to local security forces.
The high-level talks on Afghanistan in Rome brought together representatives from 46 countries and international organisations, including for the first time Iran and the OIC. “We want to go in this direction of a realistic aim which is sufficient stability for Afghanistan and essential human rights,” Michael Steiner, Germany’s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan told reporters.
Steiner said senior diplomats at the meeting had agreed that the transition of power will begin in 2011 based on strict conditions and that Afghanistan will continue to receive foreign help even after troops have pulled out.
Meanwhile, US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke said the US recognised that Iran had a role to play in resolving the Afghan conflict, Reuters reported. “We were asked whether we had any problems with that and we said ‘No,'” said Holbrooke.