War on terrorism has not been conducted satisfactorily from the point of view of Afghanistan

KABUL - In an interview with CNN, On Saturday, April 21, 2012, Afghan President Hamid Karzai mentioned that the recent attacks on Kabul were because of intelligence failure of both the Afghan and NATO.
Answering to a question in the interview Mr. President said, "Serious intelligence failure, especially an intelligence failure of our allies and NATO and others, because of the equipment that they have, because of the resources that they have, because of the time that they have spent in this part of the world." 

When asked about the victory of Afghan hearts and minds by West in the war against terrorism, Karzai said, "The war on terrorism has not been conducted satisfactorily from the point of view of Afghanistan.  The sanctuaries were not addressed, the training grounds were not addressed. 

And as I have been saying, the war on terrorism was not and is not in the Afghan villages or by causing harm to the Afghan people. Therefore, on that account, there has been a failure in providing security to Afghanistan or in keeping the Afghan hearts and minds in a matter that would satisfy Afghans."

The President was also asked what was his response regarding the belief that he has not been able to win the hearts and minds of the western allies, he said, "We understand that very well and we view it differently, though. 

We believe that there has been much lack of understanding of the Afghan situation, of the desire of the Afghan people, of the expectations of the Afghan people and that Afghanistan was not valued as it should have been valued by our allies in the past many years. 

I hope that recognition has come now. Look, we are equal partners in the struggle against terrorism.  Our country is being used.  Our soil is being used.  Our people are sacrificing their lives every day.  We cannot be judged by the prism that you have in the West or in the United States."

In the interview President Karzai also insisted that there are no possibilities of Talibans' return. "The Taliban will not return to take power in Afghanistan.  That is gone.  That is done with.  I wouldn't have told you this three years ago. 

But I can tell you this today, with confidence, that the Afghan people will not allow that. Second, that if there is a peace process and a successful one, and as a result of that peace process the Taliban come back to participate in their own country and society, this has to be — this has to be in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the Afghan people and the Afghan constitution. And the Afghan people and the Afghan constitution have chartered their way forward into the future, where the Afghan woman will be equal partners with men in bringing this country to a better standard." (PR)