Karzai:
U.S. Not in Afghanistan to Defeat Taliban
KABUL (Dispatches) – The United States is not in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban but because America’s main rivals like China, Russia and Iran are in the neighborhood, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai says.
Karzai made the remarks in an interview with The Washington Post’s Pamela Constable.
"The United States is not here to go to a party,” Karzai said. "There is no need for them to build so many bases just to defeat a few Taliban. They are here because all the great American rivals are in the neighborhood, and we happen to be here, too. They are welcome to stay but not to deceive us.”
The United States -- under Republican George W. Bush’s presidency -- and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban regime from power, but after more than 16 years, the foreign troops are still deployed to the country.
Taliban militants and Daesh terrorists have increased their attacks against foreign troops and other Westerners residing in Afghanistan but often end up killing more Afghans than the foreigners occupying the country.
"Too many Afghans are dying for an uncertain future,” said the former Afghan president. "We are too small and poor to ask the US to stop, but we are a country, and our interests must be respected.”
Karzai has previously accused the U.S. of colluding with Daesh in Afghanistan and allowing the terrorist group to flourish in the war-stricken country in order to justify its presence.
Back in 2014, the U.S.-led occupying forces in Afghanistan officially announced the end of their combat operations in the country, saying they now had a mission to "train, advise, and assist” Afghan troops.
Karzai, who became Afghanistan’s first president under an agreement largely negotiated by Western countries after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, refused to sign an agreement allowing U.S. military bases to remain in the country before leaving in 2014. Karzai’s successor, Ashraf Ghani, signed the agreement immediately after he assumed the presidency.
Karzai has suggested an alternative political path forward, proposing a loya jirga, or traditional gathering for debate and decision to resolve problems.
"I know the Americans are worried that a jirga will ask them to leave and ask me to return, but I have no desire to return,” Karzai said in the interview. "Today, things are going so badly that we need to go back to the people. The United States has no need to fear us, but America’s behavior is damaging us, and our belief in the democratic values of the West is being shattered. Why do they want to see us weak and unstable?”
He told The Washington Post's correspondent that he had been "brutally frank” with American officials during his presidency, saying that it was his patriotic duty at the time.
"I am not anti-American,” Karzai said. "I oppose a lot of US policies, but I remain an ally. If the Americans act honorably, they will find us very accommodating.”
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seen in this file photo.
Karzai made the remarks in an interview with The Washington Post’s Pamela Constable.
"The United States is not here to go to a party,” Karzai said. "There is no need for them to build so many bases just to defeat a few Taliban. They are here because all the great American rivals are in the neighborhood, and we happen to be here, too. They are welcome to stay but not to deceive us.”
The United States -- under Republican George W. Bush’s presidency -- and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban regime from power, but after more than 16 years, the foreign troops are still deployed to the country.
Taliban militants and Daesh terrorists have increased their attacks against foreign troops and other Westerners residing in Afghanistan but often end up killing more Afghans than the foreigners occupying the country.
"Too many Afghans are dying for an uncertain future,” said the former Afghan president. "We are too small and poor to ask the US to stop, but we are a country, and our interests must be respected.”
Karzai has previously accused the U.S. of colluding with Daesh in Afghanistan and allowing the terrorist group to flourish in the war-stricken country in order to justify its presence.
Back in 2014, the U.S.-led occupying forces in Afghanistan officially announced the end of their combat operations in the country, saying they now had a mission to "train, advise, and assist” Afghan troops.
Karzai, who became Afghanistan’s first president under an agreement largely negotiated by Western countries after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, refused to sign an agreement allowing U.S. military bases to remain in the country before leaving in 2014. Karzai’s successor, Ashraf Ghani, signed the agreement immediately after he assumed the presidency.
Karzai has suggested an alternative political path forward, proposing a loya jirga, or traditional gathering for debate and decision to resolve problems.
"I know the Americans are worried that a jirga will ask them to leave and ask me to return, but I have no desire to return,” Karzai said in the interview. "Today, things are going so badly that we need to go back to the people. The United States has no need to fear us, but America’s behavior is damaging us, and our belief in the democratic values of the West is being shattered. Why do they want to see us weak and unstable?”
He told The Washington Post's correspondent that he had been "brutally frank” with American officials during his presidency, saying that it was his patriotic duty at the time.
"I am not anti-American,” Karzai said. "I oppose a lot of US policies, but I remain an ally. If the Americans act honorably, they will find us very accommodating.”
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seen in this file photo.