Clinton Arrives in Tokyo for Afghan Conference

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Tokyo Saturday ahead of a major development conference for Afghanistan where donors are expected to pledge billions of dollars in support.

Clinton touched down in the Japanese capital after a brief visit to Kabul where she announced that the United States had designated Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally, providing a long-term framework for defense cooperation.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and representatives from dozens of countries, are gathering in Tokyo for Sunday's conference to pledge support for Afghanistan after the NATO pullout in 2014.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Saturday donors would pledge more than $16 billion up to 2015, adding that Japan would provide up to $3 billion over five years, and $1 billion more for Afghanistan's neighbors.