Eikenberry Dismisses Anti-US Comments of Afghan Officials

Top US envoy to Afghanistan on Sunday strongly refuted the mounting anti-US criticisms by officials in Kabul.

US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry said during a visit to western Herat province that the United States would begin to lose ‘inspiration to carry on' with the counterterrorism campaign if all their efforts were described as ineffective.

"When we hear ourselves being called occupiers and worse, and our generous aid programmes dismissed as totally ineffective and the source of all corruption, our pride is offended and we begin to lose our inspiration to carry on," Mr Eikenberry told 200 students at Herat University.

"Mothers and fathers of fallen soldiers, spouses of soldiers who have lost arms and legs, children of those who lost their lives in your country -- they ask themselves about the meaning of their loved ones' sacrifice," he said. "When I hear some of your leaders call us occupiers, I cannot look these mourning parents, spouses and children in the eye and give them a comforting reply."

A couple of weeks ago Afghan President Hamid Karzai warned the alliance to stop their raids on houses of people; otherwise, they will be acknowledged as occupation forces.

President Karzai said: "If they continue their attacks on our houses, then their presence will change from a force that is fighting against terrorism to a force that is fighting against the people of Afghanistan."

"In that case, Afghans are well-known in the history on how to treat with occupiers," Karzai said.

The comments came as President Karzai on Saturday officially confirmed the direct involvement of the US in talks with the Taliban.

To watch Eikenberry's speech in Herat, click here:

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