Karzai says security in Afghan hands by 2014

Karzai said that Afghanistan and its Western allies share “a vicious common enemy.” But,he said,victory will come in giving Afghans as much responsibility as possible in combatting the insurgency. He was flanked by international diplomats including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“I remain determined that our Afghan national security forces will be responsible for all military and law enforcement operations throughout our country by 2014” — more than three years after President Barack Obama’s date for the start of an American troop drawdown,Karzai said.

Delegates will endorse the 2014 goal,according to a draft conference communique. Even after the government takes over control of nationwide security,there will likely still be a large presence of international troops.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance will never allow the Taliban to topple the government of Afghanistan. But he said that transition to Afghan-led security would be based on “conditions,not calendars.” “Our mission will end when — but only when — the Afghans are able to maintain security on their own,” Rasmussen said.

Karzai asked international partners to channel 50 per cent of assistance through the government within two years. He urged them to align 80 per cent of projects with priorities identified by Afghans.

‘Some in Pak know Osama location’

WASHINGTON: Some elements in the Pakistan government know the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden,said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,warning it against keeping a “poisonous” snake in its backyard.

The US’ top diplomat said Pakistan’s intelligence establishment must share with the US any information about movement of bin Laden and al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri. “I want those guys. I will not be satisfied until

we get them,” she said in interviews to American TV channels during her just concluded visit to Islamabad.

“I assume somebody,somebody in this government,from top to bottom,does know where bin Laden is,” Clinton told Fox News channel. Meanwhile,Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said neither Osama bin Laden nor Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar were present in Pakistan.