In a televised speech, President Karzai raised finger in criticism of Taliban for holding daily talks with the United States as they also launch suicide attacks that kill civilians and children. “The Taliban said they wanted to show their strength,” he said. “This is while the leaders of the Taliban, their representatives, are every day at meetings with the Americans abroad.
He talked of clandestine meeting between Taliban and US while Taliban frequently rejected any resumption of negotiation after the failure of talks in March last year over the claim of prisoner exchange. In his statement, he argued that suicide bombings only enabled US-led military force to justify its presence in the country. “The bombs that were detonated in Kabul and Khost were not a show of force, they were serving America,” he said in a televised speech in Kabul.
The statement of President Karzai sparks suspicion over the peace process. He agreed with the United States and other foreign allies to give his government full authority to lead peace process. In a recent visit from Washington, the role of his administration as the only potential source to hold talks with militants was once again emphasized on.
His statements show that even Afghan officials, including Mr. President, do not have a clear picture of the way the country is bound. Like Afghan civilians, he suspects the policies of foreign countries. His statements give a sense that he is of a notion that foreign countries are not here to insurgency rather they are having their own national interests under the name of war against terrorism.
Definitely, the sentence that suicide attacks justify the presence of foreign security forces means that foreign allies are looking for a pretext to stay in the country. And the stretch of their presence serves their interest. But analysts maintain that US military presence only serves the Afghan national interest and ensures the long-term growth and stability. Many fear that withdrawal might motivate neighboring countries to interfere into domestic issues, and ultimately push the people to historical miseries. While President Karzai’s remarks show he is not happy with the presence of foreign allies. Perhaps, along with the above reason, President Karzai wants to add on his domestic popularity or think that allies do not do enough to set the current administration on leading role in peace negotiation because Taliban have consistently refused to negotiate directly with present government.