Karzai urges more China role in Afghan security

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on China to assume a more active role in protecting security across Afghanistan.

In an interview with China’s Phoenix Satellite Television, Karzai praised China as an emerging superpower and the world’s second largest economy and called on Beijing to assist its neighboring country, Afghanistan, in the establishment of security.

The Afghan president also underscored the importance of continued cooperation among China, Russia, India and other neighbors for promotion of stability and progress in Afghanistan.

Karzai noted that Afghanistan has been known as the “graveyard of empires” because of the wrong behaviors of those powers and not due to a hostile attitude on behalf of the Afghan nation.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the existing tensions between Afghanistan and the US.

In May, Karzai accused Washington of colluding with Taliban militants to keep Afghanistan insecure and to justify the presence of foreign forces in the war-torn country.

Many civilians have lost their lives in US-led operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past decade, with Afghans becoming increasingly outraged at the seemingly endless number of the deadly assaults.

Washington claims that its airstrikes target militants, but local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.

The United States and its allies entered into 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 11 years, the foreign troops have not been able to establish security in the country.