West stresses need to back Afghan government

Western nations on the UN Security Council Thursday pledged new support for Afghanistans beleaguered government 10 years after the launch of the war on the Taliban as Russia railed against NATOs ineffective tactics.High profile attacks on embassy compounds and the assassination of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani have put the international coalition on the defensive and raised new doubts about Afghan security capabilities.The United States, Britain, France and Germany all acknowledged the growing militant threat, but told a Security Council debate on Afghanistan that the attacks should not undermine support for President Hamid Karzais much criticized government.Afghanistans Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul said despite the killing last week of Rabbani, who had headed a national council leading talks with the Talibani, the peace effort will continue.But he warned that the success of the transition process will depend on the continuous support of the international community.US ambassador Susan Rice said the United States will continue to work in support of the Afghan government and the Afghan people to end the insurgency, pursue justice against those who fund, direct, and carry out the violence, and realize a peaceful future for all Afghans.Other envoys gave a similar message. But Russia criticized the international coalition. Russias deputy ambassador Igor Pankin said of the US killing of the Al-Qaeda leader in May.Highlighting the growing number of deaths of coalition and Afghan troops, Pankin said there was an alarming situation in areas now controlled by Afghan forces and that Central Asian states were worried about the spillover from Afghanistan.