Rich nations tell Afghanistan, Pakistan to talk

By Rodney Joyce

KYOTO, Japan (Reuters) - Rich nations urged Afghanistan's neighbors to promote stability in the war-ruined nation on Thursday, singling out the need for dialogue between the sparring governments in Kabul and Islamabad.

The call by Group of Eight (G8) foreign ministers came amid a sharpening of rhetoric between two countries whose relations have long been strained by Afghan accusations that Taliban insurgents operate from sanctuaries on the Pakistani side of their border.

The opening talks in Japan between the foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States were overshadowed by news of a breakthrough in efforts to end North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

But they pressed on with an agenda meant to pave the way for a July summit that will address spiraling food and fuel prices, climate change as well as Zimbabwe's election crisis, the Middle East peace process and the West's nuclear face-off with Iran.

Around 100 people staged a peaceful demonstration as the ministers in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, a city better known for its temples and cuisine than street protests.

The crowd of mostly older Japanese and a few foreigners, many escaping the June sun under parasols and sunhats, carried banners proclaiming "No G8 summit", "No to free trade and militarism", "No more poverty" and "Stop the Iraq invasion".

"America is eating the world," said Osamu Matsumoto, a 55-year-old protester wearing a mask showing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice munching on a cake shaped like the earth.

"I hear they are talking about the Middle East and North Korea, but I think that just means that they are organizing the next war," said Carlos Abril, a 31-year-old anti-globalization activist from Madrid.

In a statement released after a Japanese tea ceremony and dinner, the ministers voiced concern about the terrorism, insecurity, poverty, illicit drug production and weak institutions bedeviling Afghanistan.

NEIGHBOURHOOD ROW

Two weeks ago Afghanistan won aid pledges from international donors worth some $20 billion.

Now, the G8 is looking to Kabul to strengthen its governance to establish the rule of law, protect human rights and prevent corruption, and it wants Kabul's neighbors to play their part.

"We call on Afghanistan's neighbors to play a constructive role for the stability of Afghanistan," the ministers said. "We particularly encourage Afghanistan and Pakistan to continue their cooperation in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner through dialogue."

The call came amid rising tension between Kabul and Islamabad. On Thursday Pakistan rejected as lies an Afghan accusation that Pakistan's main security agency was behind an attempt to kill Afghan President Hamid Karzai in April.

It is six-and-a-half years since U.S.-led forces toppled the Islamist government of Afghanistan, but Britain's top military officer this week described the country as "medieval" and said it could take decades before it shows steady development.