Foreigners Behind Afghanistan's Instability: Karzai

Addressing Parliament as its reconvened after the winter break, Karzai said there are some foreign hands that are trying to ensure Afghanistan shouldn't have a proper government and that it is a country divided between the people.

He told the MPs that Afghanistan is not a lab for others to experiment with political systems and suggested the country would be fine without foreign financial assistance.

"We have $6 billion in our reserves and enough for us to enjoy for 18 months even if we don't get a penny from the world," he said.

In the same vein, Karzai suggested that the prospect of foreign forces remaining in Afghanistan after 2014 is not a done deal.

"The Nato secretary general told me that some countries are willing to stay post 2014. I told him that they should individually sign agreements with us," he said.

He spoke of his disappointment over the reports of abuse of Afghans at the hands of Afghan security forces and pointed out it was harder for him to criticise the foreign forces on such matters when Afghans are doing it themselves.

"How can I complain against international forces when Afghan National Security Forces violate the people's rights?"

"It's not forgivable... Our Afghan people are not safe in their houses," he said. "Why should I blame foreigners?"

On the topic of the upcoming presidential election, Karzai flagged its importance to his own legacy, saying he wanted it to go smoothly as possible.

"I would have a better legacy if the election is a smooth process. I don't want people to judge me as troublemaker," he said.

"The election must happen -- free and fair. I will be an ex-president in 13 months."

He criticised foreign non-government organisations who made the last presidential election "more expensive" and warned that it would not be allowed to happen again.

"Our election should not be an income source for some foreign NGOs," he said.

Karzai called on the Afghan Taliban to be part of the political solution for Afghanistan.

"O Taliban, come and let's save our country!" He said, adding that he did not mind which political groups dealt with the Taliban as long as the High Peace Council led the peace process.

"Meet with the Taliban. I am fine. But let the peace council take care of the foreign aspect of the peace talks," he said.

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