US President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai sought to put aside recent tension in their relationship by emphasising Wednesday that they are unified in building a secure and stable Afghanistan. Much of the questioning from reporters at their joint press conference focused on the heated rhetoric exchanged between Washington and Kabul last month, following Obama's visit to the Afghan capital, where he pressed Karzai to get serious about rooting out corruption in his government.
Things got worse when Karzai alleged the United Nations and Western governments were behind the voter fraud during his August re- election, in which he did not have the unwavering support of the Obama administration. Since taking office, Obama has taken a more business-like approach with Karzai, depriving him of the close personal relationship he enjoyed with former president George W Bush. The situation got so heated the White House last month wouldn't rule out the possibility of cancelling Karzai's visit.
The tone improved following a letter from Obama to Karzai thanking him for hosting his trip and a phone call from Karzai to US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. During their public appearance on Wednesday, Obama and Karzai went to great lengths to exchange pleasantries and play down the disagreements as a normal part of a strong relationship between two countries.
"I am very comfortable with the strong efforts that President Karzai has made thus far, and I think that we both agree that we're going to have to make more efforts in the future," Obama said, offering a more conciliatory tone. "Our job is to be a good friend and to be frank with President Karzai in saying, 'Here's where we think we've got to put more effort'," Obama said. "President Karzai's job is to represent his country and insist that its sovereignty is properly respected."
Both leaders acknowledged there have been "ups and downs" in the relationship but said the ability to have candid disagreements shows how strong the relationship has grown since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the resulting invasion to oust al Qaeda and the militant Taliban regime.
"There are moments that we speak frankly to each other," Karzai said. "And that frankness will only add to the strength of the relationship and contribute to the successes that we have." Karzai was in Washington with a large delegation for three days of high-level talks with senior US officials on a broad range of subjects, including security, economic developments, corruption and good governance and agriculture.
The purpose was to evaluate the progress that has been made under Obama's two-track strategy of intensifying military operations against resurgent Taliban militants while building up the civilian side to improve the effectiveness of the Afghan government.
They discussed Karzai's efforts to reconcile with some members of the Taliban movement to reintegrate them into society, a strategy backed by the Obama administration as long as the militants renounce violence and sever ties with al Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden. Obama addressed the problem posed by unintended civilian casualties from US and Nato operations, another issue that has been a key source of tension with Kabul. Obama highlighted General Stanley McChrystal's effort since taking charge of US and Nato forces to avoid harming civilians abd win the support of the Afghan people.
Obama said the new practices put soldiers at greater risk because they are required to be more careful about opening fire. "We do not take that lightly," Obama said. "We have an interest in reducing civilian casualties not because it's a problem for President Karzai. We have an interest in reducing civilian casualties because I don't want civilians killed. And we are going to do everything we can to prevent that."
Karzai said he was satisfied that McChrystal's plan was working to reduce the toll on civilians. "Since the arrival of General McChrystal in Afghanistan, there has been considerable progress achieved in this regard," he said. "There is very open and frank attitude about that now."
Karzai expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by US troops, a day after visiting the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, where soldiers severely wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq are treated. He said he experience a "very difficult moment" after meeting one soldier who had lost his arms and legs. "It was heart-wrenching," Karzai said. "And there were other wounded, too, just like I had seen in Afghanistan."
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