London conference on Afghanistan under spotlight
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All eyes in the region and across the world are fixed on this week's London conference as it is taking place in the wake of important developments in and outside Afghanistan.
The conference is preceded by hectic international diplomatic maneuvers, which, at least apparently, seem to have leveled the ground for a rather closer interaction among the regional and international players.
The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a new civilian strategy for Afghanistan on Friday, under which Washington will increase the number of its civilian experts in Afghanistan by 20 percent to 25 percent.
Similarly, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who will present his government's future plan of action at the conference, unveiled a plan in Kabul last week for integrating the Taliban insurgents in the mainstream of the Afghan society.
Robert Gates, the U.S. Defense Secretary, paid a visit to Pakistan, in the course of which, he succeeded to melt much of ice between Islamabad and Washington.
While describing Pakistan's security concerns as legitimate, Gates hinted in Islamabad that the U.S. will provide 12 pilotless reconnaissance planes and drone technology to Pakistan.
He also said that the U.S. would assist Pakistan in enhancing the capability of its security forces.
Earlier, Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, also paid a visit to Islamabad last week. He hinted at his country's willingness to release withheld funds for Pakistan.
Co-hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the London Conference aims to galvanize the international effort on political and economic progress, as well as on security.
The event will bring together the U.S. and other nations supporting the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF) in Afghanistan along with the UN.
Prior to the conference, an important meeting between the U.S. and NATO military commanders and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has been slated for Jan. 27 in Brussels, at which they will explore more avenues of mutual cooperation and collaboration.
The Brussels meeting is also considered as an important development, particularly on account of participation by the Pakistani army chief, whose country has earlier expressed serious reservations about the new U.S. strategy on Afghanistan.
Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan hit snags in recent weeks when Pakistan took exception to U.S. troop surge in southern and eastern Afghanistan, saying it would have a spill over impact on its tribal areas and Balochistan.
However, the developments taking place in the region at the international level in the runoff to the conference manifestly show that the interests of the concerned sides, particularly the U. S., Afghanistan and Pakistan, now seem to be converging on at least some points.
Holbrooke said in Washington recently that the London conference will provide an important opportunity for the U.S. and other nations to galvanize support for Afghanistan.
Similarly, describing the conference as "a decisive moment," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that transferring lead responsibility to Afghan forces will be a critical aspect and the greatest achievement of the conference.
The British Secretary of State for Defense Bob Ainsworth also says that the core aim of the conference is to chart the course for Afghanistan for the next 12 to 18 months, for President Karzai will present his plans and the international community will agree how best to support him.
While the organizers of the conference hope that the rendezvous will generate significant funding commitments and lay out a clear roadmap for non-military assistance, it remains to be seen whether the event proves itself as a turning point in the struggle to suppress the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.
