KABUL - In response to President Hamid Karzai's frequent emphasis on an anti-graft drive, the NATO-led force on Sunday said it had started work on a comprehensive plan to fight corruption in Afghanistan. Areas of corruption would be identified before work on a comprehensive plan was launched, said McMaster, director of transparency at the ISAF headquarters, at a meeting of the National Security Council.

Corruption and criminality had a direct link to insecurity in the country, and steps in this regard had been taken, the ISAF commander said at the meeting, chaired by President Hamid Karzai.

First and second vice-presidents, security officials, the NATO commander and the US ambassador to Afghanistan attended the session at the Presidential Palace.

The current security situation was also discussed by participants, including ministers of defence, interior, foreign affairs, finance, counternarcotics, the National Directorate of Security ('NDS) head and other officials.

The NATO commander briefed the meeting on plans for transparency and accountability in relations between the Afghan government and foreign soldiers, a statement from Karzai's office said.
The president ordered the officials concerned to ensure improvement in security and prevent any terrorist attacks.