Hamid Karzai | GlobalPost

Afghan forces take over security from NATO

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 10:02

The Afghan government took control of nationwide security on Tuesday and ordered envoys to try to open peace talks with the Taliban as US-led troops prepare to withdraw after 12 years of war. President Hamid Karzai announced the security handover at a military academy outside Kabul, marking a major milestone in the long and bloody foreign combat mission that began after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Afghan envoys to travel to Qatar for Taliban talks

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 06:30

Afghan government envoys are to travel to Qatar to try to open peace talks with the Taliban on a possible deal ending 12 years of conflict, President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday. "Our High Peace Council will go to Qatar, they will talk to the Taliban," Karzai said at a ceremony marking the final handover of security responsibilities from NATO to Afghan forces. emh-sak/bgs/pdw/ia

Karzai announces Afghan security handover

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 11:24

"From tomorrow, our security and defence forces will now be in the lead," said President Hamid Karzai. "From here, all security responsibility and all security leadership will be taken by our brave forces."

Afghan forces to take over security nationwide

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 03:30

President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday announced that Afghan security forces would take over responsibility for the entire country, a major milestone as the NATO-led war effort winds down. "Our security and defence forces will now be in the lead," he said in a speech. "From here, all security responsibility and all security leadership will be taken by our brave forces." sak/bgs/jm/ac

7 Afghan insurgents die in attack on Kabul airport

Agencia EFEJune 10, 2013 14:36

Kabul, Jun 10 (EFE).- Seven Taliban fighters died Monday in an attack on the Kabul airport, the Afghan capital's police chief told Efe. Two members of the Taliban unit exploded suicide bombs and another five were gunned down by security forces, while the civilian population suffered no casualties, Mohammad Ayub Salangi said. He said the insurgents were armed with explosives, grenades and automatic rifles and took cover in two half-completed buildings near the airport, from where they traded shots with security forces for several hours.

Karzai: Did 'War on Terror' encourage radical Islam?

Agence France-PresseJune 9, 2013 19:33

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday the Muslim world was "in turmoil" and wondered whether the "war on terror" led by the United States since 2001 was to blame for the radicalisation. Addressing a forum on relations between the US and the Muslim world in Doha, Karzai declared: "The war on terror as it began in 2001 and moved forward until today has not been a happy one." "Have we succeeded in the war on terror?" he went on.

Kabul demands British forces transfer prisoners within weeks

Thomson ReutersJune 9, 2013 10:31

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai demanded on Saturday that Britain hand over within two weeks more than 80 prisoners of war being held in a British base in the south, saying the detention was against Afghan law and a breach of sovereignty. The issue of prisoner transfers is an irritant in the relationship Karzai between and his Western backers, and has become more pronounced as the NATO-led international force prepares to pull out most of its troops by the end of next year.

Lawyers accuse British forces of illegally detaining Afghans

Thomson ReutersMay 29, 2013 11:59

LONDON (Reuters) - British forces are breaking the law by detaining up to 85 Afghans without charge at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province, a law firm acting for eight of the men said on Wednesday. British firm Public Interest Lawyers said their clients had been held for up to 14 months without access to lawyers or being told why they were being detained, and that this was "in clear breach of UK and international law."

US wants to keep nine bases in Afghanistan

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 16:25

Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed Thursday to wring concessions from the United States in negotiations to sign a security pact, saying Washington wanted to retain nine military bases in the country. After more than 11 years of US-led military intervention in Afghanistan, the two countries are hammering out a deal to allow a limited US troop presence to remain after the international coalition leaves next year.

Afghanistan to keep pressure on US to free prisoners

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 12:31

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday his government was continuing to press the United States to release Afghan nationals being held in the US Guantanamo facility. "We want the return of those prisoners as soon as possible," Karzai told a news conference as he concluded a one-day visit to Denmark. "This is an issue that we have been engaged in for a long time with the US and UN system," Karzai said, adding that he was following the news of the current hunger strike among prisoners at Guantanamo Bay where some 100 detainees are reported to be refusing food.