Peace Process, Security Transition Core of Contact Group Summit

Security transition to Afghan forces and Afghan government's peace programme were two of several top issues discussed in the International Contact Group summit held in Kabul.

Representatives from more than 50 countries from all across the world attended the two-day International Contact Group conference held 26-27 June in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Peace talks, regional cooperation, role of neighbouring countries in Afghan peace efforts, security handover and continuation of strategic partnership between Afghanistan and the International Community beyond 2014 were the top issues discussed in the summit, Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul said.

At the summit Chairman of the International Contact Group said Afghan neighbours could play a crucial role for Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

"In the past two weeks, talks were focused on four core issues, including Afghan national reconciliation process, two-day Core Group conference on regional cooperation and roles of neighbouring countries, transition process, and long-term partnership between Afghanistan and the International community," Foreign Ministry Zalmai Rasoul said.

At the conference US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan said part of the responsibility to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan should be fulfilled by Pakistan.

Marc Grossman, US top diplomat in the region, said that part of the responsibility to bring peace to Afghanistan is an end to support by Pakistan of the safe havens and enablers where people come from Pakistan and attack people in Afghanistan, both Afghans and Americans."

"We have made it clear that we want from the government of Pakistan to participate positively in the reconciliation process," Mr Grossman further said. "Pakistan now has important choices to make and their participation in core group, I hope and I believe, shows they are interested in supporting reconciliation, supporting Afghan reconciliation."

Mr Michael Steiner, Chairman of the International Contact Group and German Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said now is the time that the international community should begin implementing their commitments to Afghanistan.

"The transition, region by region, district by district is working, but at the same time it is absolutely crucial that we fully commit ourselves in building the Afghan security forces," Mr Michael Steiner said.

Mr Steiner said 2014 is not the beginning of an end to international cooperation with Afghanistan, but still it will continue differently.

"The engagement of the international community is not over in 2014, but continues differently and effectively and brings together several factors which are necessary. It is the economic factor, it is the development factor, it is the security factor and it is the regional factor," Mr Steiner said.

Landmark Bonn conference on Afghanistan, which is due to be held this year in Germany, is seen as the most crucial summit to Afghan future.