THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A 72-nation conference on Afghanistan will launch a broader international commitment to the security of the region, including neighboring Pakistan, special U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said Monday.
The hastily convened conference opening today in this Dutch city brings together all the countries bordering Afghanistan, including Iran, and all nations contributing troops to the NATO-led international force fighting Taliban insurgents.
With the meeting scheduled to last just seven hours, few countries will be able to give a nuanced analysis on the conference’s stated theme: a comprehensive review of Afghan strategy in a regional context.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was expected to outline the policy review unveiled last week by President Barack Obama.
On Monday, Clinton declined to rule out any meeting with Iranians during the conference. The Associated Press
