Istanbul: Heads of foreign governments and diplomats agreed to join hands to ensure peace, security, development and prosperity in the war-torn Afghanistan during one-day Istanbul Conference hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
The conference was inaugurated by Turkish president which was also addressed by his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, foreign ministers of neighbouring countries and representatives of international organizations.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced that over a dozen countries had signed up to a package of ‘confidence-building measures’ for cooperation in fields, including security, reconstruction and health and the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.
“This is the commitment of regional and international actors to work together and rebuild Afghanistan until peace and stability prevails,” Mr Davutoglu said at a press conference with Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul.
The two foreign ministers said they were confident that Istanbul Declaration adopted at the conference would be implemented to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan and in the region.
The participants reaffirmed their desire for enhanced cooperation for fighting terrorism, including through exchange of information.
US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns hailed the agreement as “the first clear, region-wide statement of support for Afghanistan in this time of transition and reconciliation”.
The signatories included Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, according to a statement.
The regional players also vowed to “respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” it said.
The Istanbul talks were intended to chart the way ahead for Afghanistan, with the US-led Nato mission already locked into military drawdowns that are scheduled to bring all foreign combat troops home by 2014.
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