"The United States proposes a ministerial-level conference on Afghanistan and the broader regional challenge on March 31," she told NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

"We are in the process of discussing with the UN the possibility that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon could open the conference and that his special representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide could chair the meeting."

She did not say where the meeting would be held, but only that Afghan and Pakistani officials would be invited, with NATO allies, donors, international organisations and "key regional and strategic" nations.

"I would expect that Iran would be invited," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood. The Islamic republic has been badly hit by opium production in Afghanistan.

The conference would take place days before a summit of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders in early April, but not be a NATO event. The Hague in the Netherlands is one possible venue being discussed.

The United States and its NATO allies are battling to halt an insurgency that has severely dented their efforts to spread democracy and foster reconstruction throughout Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama has demanded a strategy review focused on fighting extremism in the strife-torn country, where he is deploying 17,000 extra troops, and in neighbouring Pakistan as he winds down US involvement in Iraq.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer described the conference as a giant meeting and said the allies had responded with enthusiasm.

"I felt a lot of appetite for a big tent meeting," he told reporters, after the talks.

Clinton urged US allies to make greater efforts, ahead of Afghanistan's presidential elections on August 20 which could prove a litmus test of NATO's efforts there.

"We have a common threat. A common challenge. And a common responsibility," she said.

"We must add resources to address the serious situation on the ground right now. President Obama has committed 17,000 more troops, and we appreciate that some countries are giving more."

But she added: "We must also increase development aid and provide support to help train and build the Afghan army and police to take on the responsibility of keeping the Afghan people safe and secure."

Many European allies are reluctant to send more troops and equipment to the south of Afghanistan, where the insurgency is at its worst, and this is straining the alliance.

But Washington hopes those who will not stump up military resources might reach deeper into their pockets, or help promote democracy or provide training.

The European Union is providing Afghanistan with some eight billion euros over the 2001-2010 period and is helping train the Afghan police, although it is struggling to find the necessary trainers.

However EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Europe could do more.

"There is a lot that can be done, it is not only militarily. It is not a military problem only," he said.

"We can do probably more on police, on reconstruction, in regional matters, Afghanistan is not alone, Pakistan is a very important country for the stability of Afghanistan," he said.

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