Obama proposes Afghan contact group including Iran

US President Barack Obama Friday proposed setting up a new contact group on Afghanistan including Iran to tackle the bloody Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency.

US President Barack Obama Friday proposed setting up a new contact group on Afghanistan including Iran to tackle the bloody Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency.

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"Together with the United Nations, we will forge a new Contact Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan that brings together all who should have a stake in the security of the region," Obama said as he unrolled a new US strategy for Afghanistan.

He said the group should include "our NATO allies and other partners, but also the Central Asian states, the Gulf nations and Iran; Russia, India and China."

"None of these nations benefit from a base for Al-Qaeda terrorists, and a region that descends into chaos. All have a stake in the promise of lasting peace and security and development."