Afghan’s neighbours to play role in rehabilitation:Hillary

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has urged Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbours to play a role in securing and rebuilding the war-torn nation. She told an audience in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Saturday that Afghanistan's reintegration into the regional economy would be critical to its recovery as well as improving conditions in surrounding countries.

Mrs. Clinton was promoting the concept of a "new Silk Road" that would increase regional trade and commerce.On the sensitive subject of human rights, she told a meeting in Dushanbe that she would raise the issue with the leaders of both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where she will travel later in the day. Clinton was asked why she would meet with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who has been accused of numerous abuses. She replied that it was important to try to raise issues of human rights and rule of law, the kind of fundamental freedoms that the US strongly supports.

Clinton is pushing Afghanistan's neighbours to support the country as the US withdraws forces over the next three years.