Karzai sees foreign troops withdrawal by 2014

KABUL - Afghan forces will be ready to take responsibility from foreign troops for fighting the Taliban within four years, President Hamid Karzai has said.

Opening an international conference here Tuesday, Karzai said: “I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014.”

The handover process could begin as soon as next year, The Telegraph reported.

The conference set the beginnings of a transition allowing foreign troops to switch from the front line to training roles as the Afghan army and police grows.

The conference has been billed as the beginning of a “Kabul process” which will see Afghanistan weaning itself from international dependence and given a greater say in how donor money is spent, the report said.

Enhancing the capacity of the Afghan security forces, political reform, reconciliation with Taliban militants and improving governance, including the fight against endemic administrative corruption, are high on the agenda of the Kabul Conference, attended by nearly 70 international representatives.

The delegates include representatives from 57 countries, including 40 foreign ministers and 11 representatives from regional and international organisations, among them UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.