News
January 23, 2010
President Karzai Talks London Conference with Members of the Media

President Hamid Karzai discussed Saturday the coming London Conference with a number of journalists and representatives from the Afghan independent media community.

In the meeting held in the Presidential Palace, President Karzai urged members of the media to continue considering national interests in their engagements for the sake of a stronger national unity in the country.

On London Conference, the President stated that “ National reconciliation, Afghan leadership in providing security, enhanced regional coordination, effective fight against corruption and economic development” were the main objectives Afghan government would be seeking in the Conference.

The President described as the top priority the plan for “reconciliation” with those in armed opposition who have no links with Al qaeda or other terrorist groups and hailed the level of cooperation and support now by the international partners.

The President reiterated on the Afghan leadership in any Taliban talks and said military alone was not the solution and Afghanistan was looking for an enhanced regional cooperation for that end. He said improved relations and mutual confidence with Pakistan and an effective role by Saudi Arabia in enabling environment were very important for peace talks.

The President blamed the three decades of war for the growth of extremism in Afghanistan and said “there were countries with particular interests which sent in extremism to Afghanistan during our holy war against Soviet invasion. After September 11th, not a realistic approach was taken to redress Afghanistan’s plight resulting in a continued unrest and suffering in the country.”

President Karzai hailed the “improving” level of coordination between the Afghan and international forces and said civilian casualties mostly resulted from air military operations have now reduced.

Describing parallel structures as one of the biggest challenges the country faces, the President said Afghanistan remains strongly against any such structures to its government and would raise this in the London Conference.

The President continued conversation with the media members.