World to continue parthership with Afghanistan after 2014: UN chief

Chicago (US), May 21 (Xinhua-ANI): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday that the international community will continue the partnership with Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO-led forces by the end of 2014.

Ban made the remarks after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the sidelines of the two-day NATO summit, which kicked off here on Sunday afternoon.

"The secretary-general said the Chicago summit was an important milestone that underscored that the international community will continue to partner with Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the international military forces," Ban's spokesman said in a statement.

Afghanistan is one of the three major issues to be discussed at the two-day NATO meeting.

The NATO-led ISAF, a coalition forces whose numbers reached a peak of more than 140,000 troops last year, has already started a draw-down. The vast majority is scheduled to leave by the end of 2014, when the Afghan troops are expected to take over all security responsibilities.

"While noting the steps the Afghan authorities have taken on governance, he said that amid a global fiscal crisis donors would continue to link long-term aid with delivery on governance," the statement said.

"The secretary-general reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to provide support to the Afghan authorities to produce credible and democratic elections."

The UN chief also underscored the importance of political reconciliation, socio-economic development and human rights, especially to improve the status for women and girls in the war-torn country, it added. (Xinhua-ANI)