Japan hosts conference on Afghanistan disarmament

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Japan on Thursday convened an international conference on disarmament in Afghanistan aimed at strengthening efforts to persuade illegal armed groups to disband. Foreign Minister Taro Aso, in an opening speech, said the threat posed by such groups in Afghanistan must be addressed urgently. "It is the unfortunate truth that the weak governance of the Afghan government still hinders the country's reconstruction," he said. The conference, also attended by Afghanistan's Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili, brought together officials from 18 countries and international organizations.