US says Afghan neighbours not helping enough

ROME, July 2 (Reuters) Afghanistan's neighbours need more convincing that stabilising the country is in their interest, the U.S.

ambassador to the United Nations said today, suggesting the United Nations may have a greater role to play.

''That region still, unfortunately, has a situation where sometimes neighbours, rather than being good neighbours, tend to see opportunities in increasing difficulties there,'' said Zalmay Khalilzad who was in Rome for a conference on Afghanistan.

The conference is being attended by the leaders of the United Nations, NATO and Afghanistan, as well as diplomats from 20 nations, including Afghan neighbours Iran and Pakistan.

''One of the ideas is whether there could be a special (UN) envoy selected that would deal with the external dimensions,'' the Afghan-born Khalilzad said. ''There will be at least some informal discussion here during the conference.'' Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated in the past year and a half, largely over Afghan complaints that Islamabad is not doing enough to stop resurgent Taliban operating in Pakistan.

Khalilzad, a former US ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, said he had no plans to speak with anyone from Iran. He reiterated that the US was working with allies on another batch of sanctions for Iran over its nuclear programme.

One of the big issues expected to be addressed in the Afghan talks, at least privately, is how to avoid accidental killings of civilians in the battle against the Taliban, after as many as 45 civilians died on Saturday in a US-led air strike.

''The military folks I think do their best to avoid civilian losses,'' he said.

''Of course when there are victims, on humanitarian grounds we have to do, and do, what is appropriate.'' Reuters RKM DB2329