WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday welcomed an international conference in Kabul, saying it represented a "major step forward" for the future of Afghanistan.

Obama insisted the US strategy in Afghanistan was the right one, as visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron said "real progress" was being made.

The international community on Tuesday endorsed sweeping Afghan government plans to take responsibility for security by 2014, forge peace to end nine years of war and take greater control of aid projects.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led about 80 organizations and countries at the conference aiming to put Afghanistan on the road to stability -- and allow foreign troops to draw down.

BDST: 0915 HRS, July 21, 2010