US envoy admits mistakes of West 'prolonged Afghan war'

The U.S. envoy to Afghanistan has said that mistakes committed by the West in Kabul have prolonged the bloodshed in the war-torn nation.

Obama's special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, James F Dobbins, also said that sidelining Iran and Russia despite their support towards intervention by America and Britain in 2001 was wrong, as these two nations will play a crucial part in rebuilding Kabul after the departure of Nato troops post-2014, the Independent reports.

The decision to invade Iraq, which allowed the Afghan insurgents to regroup and rearm in neighbouring Pakistan, led to years-long bloodshed, he said.

Another mistake that he pointed to was the delay in reconciliation efforts with the Taliban.