Karzhi Slams the US
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:30 am
Outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai punctuated on Tuesday his tumultuous 13-year relationship with the United States, alleging that America invaded Afghanistan in 2001 for “its own interests” and never really wanted peace in the region.
Karzai, the only Afghan president since the 2001 US-led invasion, said the United States only wanted war in Afghanistan "because of its own interests,” and that Pakistan colludes with Washington to back perpetual violence in his country.
"If America and Pakistan really want it, peace will come to Afghanistan," Karzai said, according to AP. "War in Afghanistan is based on the aims of foreigners. The war in Afghanistan is to the benefit of foreigners. But Afghans on both sides are the sacrificial lambs and victims of this war."
Karzai criticized neighboring Pakistan for the lasting Taliban-led insurgency while warning the incoming government to "be extra cautious in relations with the [United States] and the West," Reuters reported.
Karzai’s successor, President-elect Ashraf Ghani, and his opponent Abudullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing dealover the weekend. After a fairly bitter electoral process, with Ghani and Abdullah both alleging voter fraud, Ghani stressed that the agreement struck between the two - which makes Abdullah the government chief executive, a newly-created role with prime ministerial duties - marks an extraordinary transfer of power in Afghanistan.
In his farewell speech, Karzai thanked a host of nations for help in the post-invasion development of Afghanistan: China, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Turkey. But he did not mention the United States, which has given Afghanistan more than $100 billion in aid since 2001 for the country’s security forces, infrastructure projects, hospitals, schools, and more.
While Karzai’s relationship with US President Barack Obama has deteriorated, Secretary of State John Kerry was successful in bringing about a political deal that led to the current unity-government agreement.
http://rt.com/usa/189964-karzai-afghanistan-farewell-speech/
Karzai, the only Afghan president since the 2001 US-led invasion, said the United States only wanted war in Afghanistan "because of its own interests,” and that Pakistan colludes with Washington to back perpetual violence in his country.
"If America and Pakistan really want it, peace will come to Afghanistan," Karzai said, according to AP. "War in Afghanistan is based on the aims of foreigners. The war in Afghanistan is to the benefit of foreigners. But Afghans on both sides are the sacrificial lambs and victims of this war."
Karzai criticized neighboring Pakistan for the lasting Taliban-led insurgency while warning the incoming government to "be extra cautious in relations with the [United States] and the West," Reuters reported.
Karzai’s successor, President-elect Ashraf Ghani, and his opponent Abudullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing dealover the weekend. After a fairly bitter electoral process, with Ghani and Abdullah both alleging voter fraud, Ghani stressed that the agreement struck between the two - which makes Abdullah the government chief executive, a newly-created role with prime ministerial duties - marks an extraordinary transfer of power in Afghanistan.
In his farewell speech, Karzai thanked a host of nations for help in the post-invasion development of Afghanistan: China, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Turkey. But he did not mention the United States, which has given Afghanistan more than $100 billion in aid since 2001 for the country’s security forces, infrastructure projects, hospitals, schools, and more.
While Karzai’s relationship with US President Barack Obama has deteriorated, Secretary of State John Kerry was successful in bringing about a political deal that led to the current unity-government agreement.
http://rt.com/usa/189964-karzai-afghanistan-farewell-speech/
