Karzai defends his government

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai Thursday defended his government's six-year record, saying much progress has been made during that time.

Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Karzai, accompanied by visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, rejected an independent U.S. panel's conclusion the Afghan war has become a forgotten one.

Rice and Miliband arrived for a surprise visit to the country.

Rice said progress has continued in the three years since she last visited the country. She said progress also was being made in the fight against insurgents.

Miliband said Britain is committed to working with the Karzai "against the shared enemies that we have."

On the escalating violence in Afghanistan, Rice said the Taliban militants have now turned increasingly to the tactics of coward, bombing and kidnapping defenseless people.

"And in that way, we know that we have more work to do," she said.

Earlier in the day, Rice and Miliband visited Kandahar to meet the multinational coalition forces. Rice said it was "extraordinary to see the range of countries that have bound together to help the people of Afghanistan, to help them to have a more secure environment."