Afghan war can’t be won militarily: Karzai

Related Articles

Former Canadian Soldier David Lavery Arrested by Taliban in Kabul

November 16, 2024

Eight dead after vehicle falls into river in Afghanistan

November 16, 2024

Qatar, Turkey urge inclusive government in Afghanistan

November 16, 2024

AT-KABUL: Former President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday received a number of leaders and tribal elders from Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province at his office, where he listened to their grievances over civilian casualties. Tribal chieftains explained about military operations and civilian casualties in Dasht-e-Archi, hoping that civilian casualties stop as soon as possible.

Karzai expressing his condolences and sympathy with the visiting chieftains and said that bombing in villages would yield any substantial outcome in the counterterrorism pursuit and the only outcome would be the death of innocent people and the ensuing financial damage. “This trend of civilian deaths is highly likely to detach people from their government,” he said.

In an airstrike on a religious school in Dasht-e-Archi district, over 35 people were killed and 150 others wounded. Karzai strongly condemned the recent bombings and military operations in Nangarhar, Paktia, and Uruzgan provinces that caused causalities to the innocent civilians. He said the U.S. can’t accomplish its goals by military means or by destroying Afghan homes, rather this only leads to more hatred and brings suffering and agony.

“The application of force or military means is not a solution to the conflict; rather an eternal peace calls for a national determination and public unanimity to decide their own fate,” said Karzai.

Regarding his downtrend ties with the Unites States, he said that dropping bombs on people’s houses in villages, running illegal detention centers, carrying out fierce military raids and the rising civilian casualties had him go against the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.