Bonn , Germany ( CNN ) -- Ten years ago , Afghan leaders met outside Bonn , Germany , to lay out a road map to establish and sustain Afghanistan 's government after the fall of the Taliban . On Monday , the nation 's president for the last seven years , Hamid Karzai , will once again preside over a conference in the west German city to chart his nation 's future . Yet this time , as opposed to just U.N. representatives facilitating the 2001 conference for a group of Afghan exiles and leaders , members of 85 delegations from various countries and 15 international organizations will join Afghans in the discussions . Their goal is to take stock of accomplishments and assess continued challenges in Afghanistan over the past decade , as well as to plot a partnership with the Kabul government amid plans to withdraw all foreign combat troops from the country by 2014 . There has , admittedly , been notable progress in recent years . Afghanistan 's economy has grown , albeit it at a slow rate . Despite reported corruption , Afghanistan has moved away from the repressive extremist rule of the Taliban and toward a more democratic political system , in which Afghans vote for their leaders . And the status of women -- strictly controlled under the Taliban -- has improved with a constitutional commitment guaranteeing equality , and 3 million girls are now in school . But the international community knows many of these gains hang by a thread . As it was in 2001 , Afghanistan is still one of the world 's poorest and corrupt nations . Even as international troops seek to wind down their involvement , the country faces a resilient Taliban insurgency , political instability and economic turmoil . Attendees at this Bonn conference are expected to address prospects for long-term aid for Afghanistan . That could well include a promise of substantial resources from the international community , given concerns Afghanistan 's economic stability may suffer after international troops leave and funding levels dwindle . Karzai is officially in charge of the conference , seeking to demonstrate ownership over his nation 's own affairs . Afghan officials are expected to make extensive presentations on plans to assume responsibility of security from NATO-led forces over the next three years and efforts to forge a political settlement with the Taliban , which some see as key to establishing security across the country . Yet even with Afghanistan 's ambitious plans to become self-sufficient in political and security matters , few expect it will be truly independent -- especially economically -- beyond the 2014 transition . World Bank and American analyses state that the security situation will be pivotal to Afghanistan 's ability to grow its economy . They estimate the withdrawal of troops and a resulting loss of foreign aid could reduce Afghanistan 's growth rate by 50 % or more -- something the World Bank warned could cause the Afghan economy to collapse . The U.S. has introduced its own plan , developed in coordination with the Afghan government , to shore up the Afghan economy . Washington hopes that increasing investment in Afghanistan 's private sector and developing the country 's agricultural and mining sectors will help the nation become less reliant on the United States . U.S. officials acknowledge that it will be difficult for Afghanistan to make more progress economically , unless the governance and security situations improve . There are also other challenges , like the fact Afghanistan still ranks among the world 's lowest literacy and health rates -- factors that make it difficult to find skilled laborers need to fuel industry . Another problem is the state of Afghanistan 's infrastructure . One focus is to integrate Afghanistan 's economy with its neighbors in south and central Asia , thus bolstering Afghanistan 's self-sufficiency . To that end , the United States has introduced the New Silk Road initiative to promote Afghanistan as a hub for the free movement of goods , services , capital and people in the region . The elephant in the room at Bonn -- or , more accurately , not in the room -- will be neighboring Pakistan . Islamabad opted not to send any representatives to the conference last week in reaction to November 27 cross-border strike by NATO that killed 24 of its soldiers . It has also closed NATO supply lines into Afghanistan in retaliation for the attack . Pakistan is viewed as a critical player in the region , because of its perceived relationships with the Taliban and other insurgency groups -- some of whom are based within Pakistani borders , from where they launch attacks on Afghan and foreign troops . Pakistan 's government , itself , has argued for a larger role in regional efforts to stabilize the country and broker peace with the Taliban . Washington had hoped the Bonn conference would produce momentum for peace talks with the Taliban , but reconciliation efforts have stalled since the September assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani , a former Afghan president who was his government 's chief negotiator in talks with insurgents . Those efforts have been further stymied by Pakistan 's decision not to go to Germany . U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who arrived in Bonn on Sunday night , has called Pakistan 's decision to drop out of the conference `` regrettable '' and even called Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to ask his government to reconsider . Still , U.S. officials -- at least publicly -- refuse to admit Pakistan will play spoiler either at the Bonn conference or in the larger U.S.-led plans to stabilize Afghanistan and bring forces home .
Diplomats and NGO leaders meet this week in Germany to talk about Afghanistan . Score: 6 Afghanistan is facing many economic , security and political challenges . The absence of Pakistan from the conference looms large .