The North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday this week charted the course of future engagement in Afghanistan. As it was anticipated, NATO endorsed full withdrawal of "combat troops" from Afghanistan by 2014 and showed that Afghan national security forces have acquired the capability to take the charge of their country's security.

What is overemphasized by NATO is to put an end to their combat role by the end of 2014. But it is not explained if the war will be over by then of whether Taliban will be defeated completely or reconciled in one way or another. There is a growing concern about the exit of NATO among Afghan people. They have begun to portray how dangerous and horrifying it would be if the unscrupulous turbaned Taliban appear once again.

There is no doubt that the Taliban still possess the ability, resources and recruits to cause mass disruption, mass killings and mass destructions as they continue to do so in different provinces of Afghanistan by seeping into one or another government agency, by carrying out suicide assaults and by planting roadside bombs almost on a day-to-day basis.

The reconciliation has not paid off and the Taliban seek to re-establish their Islamic emirate. They even do not show any willingness to accept a power-sharing agreement with an Afghan government. There is not enough pressure on the Taliban to force them to come to the negotiating table either.

Afghan delegation to Chicago summit was clear on asking for continued financial aid to keep Afghan national security forces. But there is no explanation on corruption that runs rampant across the administration led by President Hamid Karzai. President Karzai has failed to keep both Afghan people and the country's international allies happy.

He sometimes alienates international community and seeks shelter to Afghan people in a demagogic way and sometimes it is the reverse. His overly reconciliatory and appeasing approach towards Taliban has caused a divided politics in the country. He has lost the support of major political groupings that represent a large portion of Afghan population.

Before this, he would slam international forces or the US and other countries under the pretext of night raids or security companies. Now he has changed the targets of his criticism and accuses some US congressmen of dividing the country.

The whole purpose of this continued criticism is to divert the attention from his failure to stamp out corruption and run a transparent administration. Afghan people are now mature enough not to be deceived by President Karzai's strategy of diversion. They want political reforms that could pave the way for good governance, transparency and accountability. President Karzai will have to come to terms with accepting this reality sooner or later.