Karzai wants NATO-led troops out of Afghan villages

PanARMENIAN.Net - While insisting on war on terrorism, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai said Saturday, Dec 15, he hopes for NATO-led troops to quit Afghan villages and remain confined to their bases, The Frontier Post reports.

During an annual conference of ambassadors and consuls-general, Karzai said the U.S. and its allies had come to Afghanistan for the war against terrorism.

The coalition ousted the Taliban from power and forced Al Qaeda from the country with the cooperation of the Afghan people, he told the conference aimed at developing Afghanistan's foreign policy strategy for the next three years.

The Afghans had suffered on a daily basis during the war on terrorism, and the world should not ignore their sacrifices, he insisted, suggesting the fight should be taken to areas where terrorists were shielded and financed.

“We want foreign troops to leave our villages, streets and bazaars, go to their bases and leave the country gradually by the end of 2014,” Karzai remarked.

He said Afghanistan had been desirous of maintaining robust relations with its neighbors. Iran should realize the fact signing a strategic agreement with the U.S. was based on Afghanistan’s needs, he said.

Similarly, the U.S. should also try to understand that relations between Afghanistan and Iran were also crucial for his country, the president continued.

Karzai also said he will raise the bilateral security agreement, Afghanistan’s development, peace and stability with President Barack Obama during his trip to Washington in early January.