By IANS,
Kabul: Visiting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has said his government will continue to support Afghanistan after 2014 when the foreign troops leave.
Addressing a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai here Sunday, Monti said 2014 will be a year of change.
The international community will continue to support Afghanistan for peace in the region, Xinhua quoted the Italian prime minister as saying.
Some 3,500 Italian troops are serving in Afghanistan under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They are based in militancy-plagued western region.
Monti’s visit coincided with the Italian armed forces day Nov 4. Earlier, he met with President Karzai and exchanged views on bilateral relations.
President Karzai described Italy as an old friend of Afghanistan and said it contributed $500 million to the Afghan rebuilding process.