In a speech peppered with criticism of the international effort, Karzai said the provincial capitals of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan, Herat in the west, Mazer-e-Sharif in the north and Mehterlam in the east are slated for transition from NATO-led forces to Afghan soldiers and police beginning in July.
In addition, all of Bamiyan and Panjshir provinces, which have seen little to no fighting, are on the transition list. Also slated for transition is Kabul province except for the restive Surobi district, which is along a main route to the Pakistan border and in proximity to dangerous areas of neighboring provinces, he said.
“The Afghan nation doesn’t want the defense of this country to be in the hands of others anymore. ... This is our responsibility to raise our flag with honor and pride,” Karzai told hundreds of dignitaries and Afghan police and soldiers at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan in the capital.
The NATO forces currently in the lead or partnered with Afghan forces in these areas will thin out, take on support roles such as training and mentoring, redeploy to other areas or go home. President Barack Obama has said that he wants the US to start withdrawing troops in July if conditions allow. Karzai’s goal is to have his forces responsible for protecting and defending their homeland in about three and a half years.
“This process will expand from capitals to the provinces.” Karzai said. “We will soon announce others for the second phase of the transition.” He struck a nationalistic chord in his speech in which he reiterated his call for the Taleban to join the peace process.
Karzai complained about the international civilian and military community, saying its development effort was disjointed and night raids, civilian casualties and irresponsible arrests have bolstered the insurgency.
A series of recent airstrikes that have lead to the death of numerous civilians have seriously eroded relations between Karzai and the US -led military coalition. The death of civilians must end, he said.
He emphasized that the war against militants should not be fought in the villages of Afghanistan, but should be directed at the “roots and safe havens.” It was a veiled reference to neighboring Pakistan where insurgents take refuge and plot attacks out of reach of Afghan and coalition troops.
Karzai said the international community should provide financial assistance for vital infrastructure projects even as he argued that the provincial reconstruction teams, meant to train government officials and assist their activities at the local level, should be phased out.
“The PRTs, the private security companies and militias, and night raids should be ended as soon as possible, and by putting an end to these things will of course strengthen the central government,” Karzai said.
He also said all international assistance should be handled through the Afghan government’s budget.
At an international conference in Kabul in July, donor nations approved a 10-page communique that restated strong support for channeling at least 50 percent of development aid through the Afghan government within two years if the government reforms, reduces corruption and strengthens its public financial management systems.
“There should be more cooperation between Afghanistan and the U.N offices working in different areas throughout the country,” he said. “We have asked for a report about the expenses of the UN” Karzai’s speech reflected his desire not to be dependent on foreign forces forever although the Afghan security forces have yet to overcome the lack of training and equipment, illiteracy, corruption and shortages of top officers and international mentors. Karzai’s delivered his speech at a ceremony marking the graduation of a third class of Afghan army officers.
Afghan Interior Minister Bismullah Mohammadi, who attended the event, has said the Afghan National Police will shoulder much of the burden of transition because of its role in protecting the public, especially in heavily populated cities like Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Lashkar Gah.
But for transition to succeed, neighboring countries such as Pakistan, must purge the Taleban and Al-Qaeda terrorists from their hideouts, Mohammadi has said.
