By Peter Hirschfeld, AP Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his country is “stunned” by the US-led campaign against the Taliban.
The Taliban, who were declared a terrorist organization in 2001, have taken advantage of Afghanistan’s vast resources to grow their ranks.
The US has not only used drones to kill Taliban fighters but has also bombed hospitals, schools and even military compounds, with the goal of halting the group’s ability to carry out attacks.
Karzai said the Taliban are using the country’s resources to fund terrorism and have used it to launch attacks in Afghanistan.
“They are using Afghanistan as a base for terrorism,” Karzai told a news conference in Kabul.
“There is no doubt that we will find ourselves in a conflict in the future if the war does not stop.”
Karzai also blamed the US for the Taliban’s resurgence.
“The US does not care about Afghanistan.
It has no interest in Afghanistan, but in spreading chaos and bloodshed,” he said.”
If the war stops, we will have a future that is different from today.”
Karzas defense minister said the government will not allow the Taliban to gain a foothold in Afghanistan’s northwest.
The United States is also considering sending special forces to help Afghan forces recapture territory from the Taliban and the Islamic State group, but Karzai said his government will do all it can to avoid such an intervention.
The NATO-led coalition has said the military campaign against Taliban and Islamic State is designed to degrade the group and prevent it from establishing a state.
The coalition has also launched airstrikes against the Islamic extremist group, which has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.
The fight against the extremist group is the first major challenge facing Afghanistan’s security forces.
