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Karzai says it’s time the US corrects its mistakes in Afghanistan
Former president Hamid Karzai said this week that while Afghanistan was more secure today than a year ago, the economy was a “disaster” and that it was time for the US to “correct it’s mistakes”.
In an interview with NPR this week, Karzai discussed the current situation in the country and the events of August 15 last year.
He said at the time of the collapse of the former government and the takeover by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), he had feared for his safety, but not because of the IEA but because of external forces.
“The Taliban (IEA) are Afghans. They belong to this country. We know them, they know us. I felt external forces, and feared that more,” Karzai said, mentioning foreign countries and elements within Pakistan, in particular, NPR reported.
According to Karzai, he stayed and met with IEA leaders, and said that they all seemed to want the same thing: a peaceful and progressing Afghanistan.
“In terms of [an] end to widespread fighting and conflict, we are happy — there’s more stability, there’s more security,” Karzai said.
“But in terms of Afghanistan having a government that all Afghan people find themselves [in], we still have a way to go. In terms of the economy of the country, it’s a disaster. In terms of Afghans leaving their own country, it’s a huge disaster and a shame upon us. And this is something that the Taliban IIEA) have to address.”
Karzai told NPR the IEA acknowledges that there are problems, and that the US made “immense mistakes” in Afghanistan.
NPR reported that he is still angry about civilian casualties during the war, saying the US bombed the wrong people so often that he refuses to believe it was a mistake.
Karzai also spoke out about the chaotic withdrawal of troops and said it had been “very dishonorable.” Families were separated amidst the chaos, and some Afghans desperate to evacuate clung to a military plane as it took off. At least two people fell to their deaths, which Karzai called a “disgrace to both of us.”
He told NPR there were things the US could do to help the Afghan people now, including unfreezing the country’s financial reserves.
“I need for the United States government to correct its mistakes in Afghanistan, to help the Afghan people stand back on their feet,” he said.
Karzai also told NPR he had met IEA leaders, all of whom had expressed a desire for better relations with the US.
But he said there were things the IEA must do first to gain trust and make progress within their own country.
“We must make sure that all the Afghan people see themselves belonging to this country and represented by the government, and that we take all the necessary steps to prove to the rest of the world that we mean well for Afghanistan,” he said.
He also said girls’ education was an issue and said he was worried the ban sets the whole country back. He warned that “a decade from now we’ll be worse than what we are now.”
NPR reported that Karzai feels there are many reasons why the IEA should take steps to prove to the world that they are trying to better the country.
“That will also make it easier for someone like me to go into the international community and say, ‘Well, we’re now on the right path towards a better future and deserve support,'” he said.
But Karzai can’t go out into the international community, even if he wanted to. He said he had asked the IEA for permission to travel abroad for several functions and events, but had always been denied, NPR reported.
As they explained it to Karzai the first time, they are honored that he is in Afghanistan and fear that things will fall apart if he doesn’t come back. He said they all knew that he would come back.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) has confirmed that so far, 315 people have died and 1,630 others injured due to recent floods in Baghlan province.
The ministry announced the figure Sunday in a statement and said that 665 houses were completely or partially destroyed and 1,000 livestock were lost.
The ministry stated that the death toll may increase and that huge financial losses have been incurred.
On a trip to Baghlan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said that the Islamic Emirate would help the flood victims with all possible means.
Baradar added that families affected by the floods will be assisted.
In addition, the ministry also announced the shipment of aid packages to the flood victims of Baghlan, which includes clothes, tents and tarpaulins.
A high-level delegation from Uzbekistan has said during its visit to Kabul that it wants to send its technical team to Kabul to discuss the purchase of one million tons of coal from Afghanistan.
The delegation, which included the Minister of Transport Ilkhom Mahkamov, and Ismatullah Irgashev, Uzbekistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, stated this in a meeting with Amir Khan Motaqqi, Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, the two sides discussed bilateral political and economic relations, regional connectivity, transit projects, trade, joint investment, and the role and importance of transit between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Muttaqi said that Afghanistan has returned to the path of peace and stability after a long time, and this is a good opportunity for Uzbekistan, other neighbors and the region to take advantage of the Islamic Emirate’s economy-oriented regional connectivity policy.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s transport minister Mahkamov stated that this time he is visiting Kabul with a strong technical team, which consists of representatives of the private sector, railway, geological and mining engineers.
He said that Uzbekistan supports the policy of the Islamic Emirate, which wants Afghanistan to become the transit hub of the region.
He pointed out that he has brought a team of engineers with him to start the practical work and feasibility studies of the Trans-Afghan railway project, and another team will visit Afghanistan this week with equipment.
Mahkamov said that Uzbekistan is ready to provide customs and border services 24 hours a day and reduce tariffs.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Irgashev, stated that his country is now issuing long-term visas for truck drivers and traders, and it will extend to education, health and tourism visas.
He added that Uzbek engineers will travel to Afghanistan in the near future for the purpose of starting the construction of Imam Bukhari madrasa in Mazar-e-Sharif.
According to him, Uzbekistan is ready to work jointly with the Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan over the restoration of historical sites and shrines.
Qadir Qiafeh, the vice-chairman of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, has said that several large mining companies have formed a consortium with the aim of entering Afghanistan’s mining sector.
“And an Iranian steel corporation is also making serious decisions to enter Afghanistan’s mining market,” Qiafeh said in an interview with ILNA.
“In the past several years, there have been negotiations between Iran and Afghanistan focusing on mines, and it was about 10 to 12 years ago that two Iranian companies entered Afghanistan’s mines,” he added.
“Investing in Afghanistan can be profitable for the Iranian industry sector, deepen the relations between the two countries and lead to long-term cooperation,” he said.
Tahawol: Efforts to address families affected by floods
Baghlan floods leave 315 dead and over 15,00 injured so far
Uzbekistan plans to buy 1 million tons of coal from Afghanistan
Floods & people’s behavior on this natural phenomenon discussed
Investing in Afghanistan mines can be profitable for Iranian industry: Qiafeh
Indian foreign ministry advises against travel to Iran, Israel
Commerce ministry inks 10 MoUs to boost development of small and medium-sized businesses
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rashid Khan named AWCC’s brand ambassador
Tahawol: Efforts to address families affected by floods
Floods & people’s behavior on this natural phenomenon discussed
Tahawol: Devastating floods in Baghlan & Takhar discussed
Saar: Intense floods in Afghanistan’s northern provinces discussed
Tahawol: Efforts to improve diplomatic ties with world discussed
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