Afghanistan is hosting a key international conference in Kabul today with an aim to chart a course for the country’s future and seek the support of international community. The conference to be jointly inaugurated by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon is a bid by the Afghan government to start a process of transition from dependence on Western backers to running the country alone. This will be the ninth international conference on Afghanistan in as many years since overthrow of Taliban rule in 2001 but it is being held within country for the first time.<br/>The conference is significant in the sense that Afghan government is talking of assuming more responsibility in country’s security and governance. The conference will lay a time frame for transition of security to Afghan forces by 2014 and reintegration of around 36 thousand Taliban fighters into the national mainstream in next five years. Afghan officials are set to present proposals covering governance, economic and social development, rule of law and justice, human rights, peace and reconciliation, regional and global partnerships and aid effectiveness. They will stress upon the international community to align their aid along these programmes. More than 70 countries and international organizations will be represented at the conference. External affairs minister Mr. S. M. Krishna is on a two-day visit to Kabul to attend the conference. <br/>A security blanket has been thrown over the capital for the conference, with central Kabul under virtual lockdown. There were sporadic loud blasts heard in Kabul last night but the reasons were not immediately clear. <br/>