Kabul-Washington relationship entering new era: Karzai

By Meena Haseeb - January 12 2013, 12:39 pm

Afghan president Hamid Karzai during his four day visit of United States on Obama?s invitation informed of a new era between Afghanistan and United States during his speech at Georgetwon University.

President Karzai and Obama on Friday also announced details of the transition of Afghanistan?s security detail from U.S. to Afghan forces by the end of 2014. The agreement means that U.S. troops will move to a supporting role in training and assisting Afghan forces starting this spring.

Karzai said Afghanistan?s relationship with the United States, though strained at times, has been beneficial for both countries? security and prosperity.

?Afghanistan could not have made the progress it made in the last 10 years without the help that we received from our allies led by the United States of America,? Karzai said during a talk titled ?Afghanistan beyond 2014: A Perspective on Afghan-U.S. Relations.?

This was Karzai?s third visit to Georgetown. He received an honorary degree from the university in September 2006 and attended the Afghanistan-America Summit on Recovery and Reconstruction in July 2002.

He said Afghan people ultimately want and need to partner with the United States to secure a prosperous future despite the two nations had difficulties in the bilateral relationship over the last decade.

?The relationship continued out of a reality that Afghanistan would always be better off in close contact and partnership with the United States,? he said. ?So is the future certainly good for us? Does it have dangers on its way? Are we certain to move forward? Will this partnership work? Yes.?

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