BONN: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday it was “unfortunate” Pakistan boycotted the Bonn conference on Afghanistan but said Islamabad still had a crucial role to play.

“I think it was unfortunate that they did not participate,” Clinton told a press conference on the sidelines of the Bonn conference, adding it would have been better if the Pakistanis had attended.

“We regret the choice that they made because today’s conference was an important milestone toward the kind of security and stability that is important for Pakistan as well as for Afghanistan,” she said.

“We continue to believe that Pakistan has a crucial role to play,” she said, adding that she was encouraged by remarks by the Pakistani premier that it will continue cooperation, including in the fight against terrorism.