London: British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown on Thursday underlined the need to turn the tide in the fight
against insurgency in Afghanistan as he opened a crucial
conference of major world powers in bid to end to the grinding
conflict in the restive country.
Foreign Ministers from 70 nations, including India's
External affairs Minister S M Krishna are attending the
conference seeking an end to the conflict in Afghanistan,
drafting plans to hand over security responsibilities to local
forces and quell the insurgency with an offer of jobs and
housing to lure Taliban fighters to renounce violence.
Describing it as a "decisive time", Brown said by the
middle of next year, "we have to turn the tide in the fight
against the insurgency."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his country could
need foreign support for its security forces for up to 15
years.
"With regard to sustaining them until Afghanistan is
financially able to provide for our forces, the time may be
extended up to 10 to 15 years," Karzai underlined.
He said with regard to training and equipping the
Afghan security forces, "five to 10 years will be enough."
A possible offer of talks with moderate Taliban is
high on the agenda of the conference jointly hosted by the UK,
UN and the Afghan government.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 20:19