By DPA,
Washington : Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked the international community to have patience as Afghanistan builds the ability to take responsibility for its own security.
In his first Western interview Sunday since US President Obama announced plans to put another 30,000 troops in Afghanistan, Karzai told US-based broadcaster CNN that he hoped to begin taking security responsibility for parts of the country within two years.
The US military contingent will approach 100,000 troops by July 2010, plus some 40,000 additional forces from NATO and other allies, in an attempt to reverse gains in recent years by Taliban insurgents. Efforts to stabilise Afghanistan while building and training the Afghan army and police to take over from allied forces are a key component of the Obama plan.
In his troop announcement Tuesday, Obama set July 2011 as a date for the start of US withdrawals to be made at a pace based on conditions on the ground.
Karzai said that the looming date for the start of withdrawals was a goal for Afghans to begin taking security responsibility.
“We will try our best as the Afghan people to do it the soonest possible,” he said. “But the international community must have also the patience with us and the realisation of the realities in Afghanistan. If it takes longer, then they must be with us.”
Karzai’s disputed re-election was confirmed last month despite concerns about widespread election fraud. He said Sunday that he hoped Afghan forces take over security nationwide within five years, when his new term of office ends.
“We as Afghans will try our very best to reach that goal,” he said, “and we hope our allies will back us to reach that goal.”
Obama was scheduled to meet Monday with his top commander for Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, and US ambassador in Kabul Karl Eikenberry, ahead of their expected congressional testimony this week to discuss the new US policy.