Afghanistan to assume soon greater security responsibility: Karzai
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Jan 27, IRNA -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday stressed his country was ready to assume greater security responsibilities over the next years.
Talking at a joint press briefing with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, the Afghan leader said, "We want to provide greater security in two to three years. Afghanistan wants to soon reduce the burden on its (western) allies and partners."
We would like to be able to take over security operations all over the country by the end of my five-year presidential term, added Karzai.
The Afghan leader warned against setting a fixed date for the withdrawal of western troops from his country.
He urged the West to pursue an Afghanistan policy that was "success-oriented, not date line oriented."
Meanwhile, Merkel echoed Karzai's calls arguing that any hasty pullout would destroy western reconstruction efforts in the war-ravaged country.
She emphasized that Germany viewed Afghanistan as a "long-term responsibility" even after the withdrawal to ensure that Taliban would not destabilize the country again.
OT**1432
End News / IRNA / News Code 922600
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