By Jonathon Burch
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan forces should be leading security operations across the country by 2014, an international conference will agree on Tuesday, with the aim of relieving foreign troops in some areas by as soon as the end of the year.
According to a copy of a final communique from a gathering of dozens of foreign ministers in Kabul, the Afghan government will be given more responsibility for its own affairs in exchange for guarantees it will improve accountability.
"Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) should lead and conduct military operations in all provinces by the end of 2014," said the communique, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.
Despite a foreign troop surge that aims to tackle the Taliban in their spiritual heartland, questions remain over the ability of Afghan security forces to fill their boots when they leave.
The United States plans to start withdrawing troops from the beginning of next year. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, addressing the conference, said the July 2011 target date underscored the urgency of transferring more security responsibility to the Afghan government.
"The July 2011 date captures both our sense of urgency and the strength of our resolve. The transition process is too important to push off indefinitely," she said.
There are also doubts over the Afghan government's ability to properly manage billions in development aid that President Hamid Karzai wants more direct control over.
In a speech to the conference, Karzai did not ask for more money but instead for more control of that already earmarked for the country. He said Afghanistan had enough commitments to last for three years.
The final communique says participants gave strong support for channelling at least 50 percent of development aid through the government within two years.
Over $40 billion has been spent on Afghanistan since 2002, Oxfam says, and around half went towards training and equipping an army and police force to take over security as countries plan their withdrawals from the 150,000-strong NATO-led force.
"I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014," Karzai told the conference, held under tight security in the heavily fortified diplomatic and government area.
The communique said Karzai also won support for a peace plan that aims to win over and reintegrate an estimated 36,000 insurgent foot soldiers while exploring talks with moderate Taliban leaders.
The Taliban have been emboldened by a perception that Washington is not committed to a drawn-out fight -- the near nine-year-old war is already the America's longest -- and insist they will not stop fighting until all foreign forces leave.
(Additional reporting by Andrew Quinn, Sayed Salahuddin and Hamid Shalizi)
(Writing by David Fox; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
