Participants optimistic over conference on Afghanistan

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The conference will be opened by Karazai and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

After his arrival at the Hague, the UN chief called for continuing support for Afghanistan from the international community.

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-general, said, "We must help Afghanistan's people and government so that they can restore peace and stability so they can devote on socio-economic development as well as protection of human rights."

Iran, however, says peace and stability can only be determined by Afghans themselves.

Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzaden, Iranian deputy foreign minister, said, "The presence of foreign troops can't bring peace, security and stability to the country."

At the conference, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to outline the policy review unveiled last week by US President Barack Obama.

The president said he will send an extra 17-thousand soldiers and four thousand advisers to train Afghan military forces.

More than half of the 70-thousand troops now in Afghanistan are Americans.

Editor:Liu Anqi