Karzai: US Should Cut Back Afghan Military Operations

Karzai: US Should Cut Back Afghan Military Operations

Afghanistan's president says he wants the United States to reduce the visibility and intensity of its military operations in his country.

In an interview Sunday in The Washington Post, Hamid Karzai said he wants the U.S. to stop night raids, which he says aggravate Afghans and could incite people to join the Taliban insurgency. The newspaper reports that the Afghan president is seeking veto power over those nighttime operations.

Mr. Karzai said the time has come to "reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life." He said Afghans have become impatient with the presence of U.S. soldiers in their homes and armored vehicles on their roads. He added that Afghan troops are ready to take more responsibility for their country's security.

Mr. Karzai told the Post he hopes his candid remarks will help improve what he called a "grudging" relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan

more

(Reuters) - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a recent visit, said on Sunday he was "stunned" at Karzai's comments to a Washington newspaper, which appeared at odds with U.S. military strategy.

<...>