Kabul on Thursday hosts the latest round of international talks on the future of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO occupation troops in 2014, with the conflict in Syria also likely to feature prominently in ministerial

Kabul on Thursday hosts the latest round of international talks on the future of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO occupation troops in 2014, with the conflict in Syria also likely to feature prominently in ministerial meetings.

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Representatives from 29 countries are gathering in Kabul for the one-day conference, which follows a meeting in Istanbul in November aimed at mapping out the future of the war-torn country.

Besides foreign ministers, Thursday's conference will also bring together representatives from international organizations including NATO, the European Union and the United Nations.
Regional strategies to combat terrorism and drug trafficking tackle natural disasters and strengthen trade and economic relations will be on the agenda.

Afghanistan is also likely to raise pressure on Pakistan over militant safe havens in its territory.

SYRIA ON THE AGENDA
British Foreign Minister William Hague said he would use talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the conference to press Moscow to use its influence to rein in the Syrian regime.

A row blew up Wednesday between Washington and Moscow over arming the rivals in the Syrian conflict after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she had information that Russia was sending attack helicopters to Assad's regime.

Lavrov insisted Russia was supplying "anti-air defense systems" to Damascus in a deal that "in no way violates international laws" and accused the United States of supplying arms to the region.

Hague said he would also meet officials from China -- which, like Russia, has vetoed UN Security Council resolutions which was aiming at condemning the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.