WASHINGTON, July 25: Afghanistan on Thursday issued a new plea for an extension of the mandate of the international peace force in the country, warning that only enhanced security could nurture reconstruction and economic growth.

Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah used a “summit” of Afghan ministers, academics, business leaders and US officials at Georgetown University to push for an expansion of the force beyond Kabul.

“The extension of ISAF (the International Security Assistance Force) to other regions would be a solid sign of commitment to the reassurance of the Afghan people,” said Abdullah, who later met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The United States, which continues to mount antiterror operations in Afghanistan, has repeatedly said it is not opposed to the expansion of the reach of the Turkish-led ISAF.

But along with its major allies, Washington has declined to provide the manpower that would be necessary for such an expansion.

Washington has instead concentrated its efforts on training an army for Afghanistan, which is seen as the best long-term hope of loosening the grip of warlords who still hold sway over much of the country.

“The Afghan people want to take responsibility for their security, and not rely on foreign forces,” said Stephen Hadley, deputy national security adviser to President George W. Bush.

“We will help them.”

Abdullah made no reference to the recent controversy over US tactics in Afghanistan, which have seen continued air raids targeting what American forces say are remnants of the Taliban militia and the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

But Powell said later, after his meeting with the Afghan foreign minister, that he was sorry for a recent incident in which 48 civilians were killed in a mistaken attack on an Afghan wedding on July 1.

“I regret it happened. These things do happen in times of conflict, but nevertheless, the loss of life touches us all very deeply,” he said.

The New York Times reported last week that hundreds of civilians have been killed in a tragic pattern of mistakes, according to a survey conducted over six months in 11 locations where airstrikes killed as many as 400 civilians.

Pentagon officials say their strategy has shifted in recent months to use of ground forces to hunt down Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.—AFP