WASHINGTON (PAN): US President Barack Obama has said he will reward good governance in Afghanistan, as leaders of more than 60 countries gathered in London to hear from President Hamid Karzai about his plan to bring peace and stability and galvanise the international community.

"We will reward good governance, work to reduce corruption and support the rights of all Afghans -- men and women alike," Obama said in his first State of the Union Address at the Capitol Hill.

"We're joined by allies and partners who have increased their own commitments, and who will come together in London to reaffirm our common purpose," Obama told the joint meeting of the US Congress.

"There will be difficult days ahead. But I am absolutely confident we will succeed," observed the president, as he informed the lawmakers that America was sending additional troops to the war-torn country.

"In Afghanistan, we are increasing our troops and training Afghan security forces so they can begin to take the lead in July of 2011, and our troops can begin to come home," Obama said amidst applause.

His Afghan policy was praised by opposition Republicans. "We applaud President Obama's decision to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan," said Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.

"We agree that victory there is imperative for national security. But we have serious concerns over the recent steps the administration has taken regarding suspected terrorists," he said.

Meanwhile, the State Department backed efforts at reintegration, as proposed by Karzai. "Theyre aimed at stabilising local areas and they're focused on low- and mid-level insurgent fighters and commanders who are not committed to an extremist ideology and who are prepared to cease their support for insurgent activity," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P J Crowley told reporters.

"This is an Afghan-led process and it will require strong political and financial support from the international community. Were aware that small-scale reintegration efforts are now underway. Reconciliation is a different animal, and it refers to potential Afghan political arrangements with senior Taliban leaders," he said.

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