Karzai: Afghans Should Lead Anti-Corruption Fight

In a meeting with the Pentagon Chief on Thursday, President Karzai emphasised that Afghan government should lead the fight against corruption in Afghanistan

The Afghan President emphasised on a need for a review of the US war strategy in Afghanistan and a shift in the US battle approach against terrorism in the country.

The US Secretary of Defence, Robert Gates, said the targeted date for the withdrawal of US forces will not change, but the US will continue its support to Afghanistan.

"The concerns of Afghan people and me as the president of this country to work toward building an Afghanistan with the help of the United States and our other allies that is state based on proper laws and regulations that is a lawful state not an abusive policed state," said President Karzai.

While underscoring the fight against corruption in Afghanistan, Mr Gates acknowledged that Afghans should have the lead of anti-corruption mission in the country.

The United States of America have to make sure that aid by US and all the other donor countries is not spent in corruption, Mr Gates said.

"this is a sovereign country, its government elected by its people, and we think that organisations such as the Major Crimes Task Force and special investigations unit are important, but they need to be run under Afghans," said Mr Gates. "We are willing to provide whatever help we can and we believe that the investigative roles of these units need to have credibility in the international community."

The other issues that were discussed in the meeting included Afghan security forces reinforcement, Afghan government's decision on the disband of private security firms and security responsibility transition to Afghan forces.