US Forces ‘Interfere’ in Afghan Affairs

By Global Research
Global Research, January 06, 2011
Press TV 5 January 2011
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the US-led foreign powers are interfering in his country’s internal affairs and hinder the implementation of laws.

He has called on both Afghans and foreign countries to respect Afghanistan’s constitution.

“I ask our foreign friends not to interfere in our internal affairs, not to interfere in our constitution,” Karzai said at a short Tuesday ceremony commemorating the seventh’s anniversary of the ratification of Afghan Constitution in downtown Kabul.

“They must stop meddling in our implementation of the law in our country.”

Karzai did not provide details but he has in the past accused foreign security companies of corruption and running a parallel government in Afghanistan.

He has also accused the United Nations and other foreigners of undermining Afghanistan’s 2009 presidential election and his own ability as an effective leader.

The remarks also come after a senior American congressman called for permanent US military bases in the war-ravaged country.

Senator Lindsay Graham said on Sunday that American air bases in the war-torn country would benefit the US and its Western allies, if maintained by the US military.

“We have had air bases all over the world and a couple of air bases in Afghanistan would allow the Afghan security forces an edge against the Taliban in perpetuity,” Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

Kabul has strongly rejected the notion of establishing permanent US military bases in Afghanistan.

Chief presidential spokesman Waheed Omar said during a press conference in Kabul on Monday that the issue has never been discussed in meetings between officials of the two countries.

“We have announced earlier that we are in touch with United States on the issue of long-term strategic partnership but not on the possible establishment of a permanent US base in Afghanistan,” he said.

Afghans also blame foreign troops and their military operations for the civilian deaths. The rising number of civilian casualties has increased anti-US sentiments in the troubled region.

Civilian casualties caused by NATO attacks have been a major source of tension between Karzai and the US-led alliance.

Over 150,000 foreign troops are currently stationed in Afghanistan.
Articles by: Global Research

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