Afghan ethnic groups’ leaders want foreign forces out

According to Press TV, leaders of ethnic groups in Afghanistan have asked for the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country and the handover of security responsibilities to Afghan forces.

Wardak governor spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said on Monday that Afghan ethnic leaders in the eastern province have called on the governor to transfer the security operations to local troops because local forces are capable enough.
The leaders have also said security operations should be carried out with cultural and moral codes of Afghan people taken into account.
The demand came as the US is pressuring Kabul to sign a controversial security agreement, which allows the US troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 with immunity from prosecution.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has often accused the US of acting in cahoots with the Taliban to justify the presence of foreign troops in the war-torn country.
The United States and its allies entered the war in Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but after more than 12 years, the foreign troops have still not been able to establish security in the country.