LONDON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai was critical of NATO efforts, saying 10 years of military action has failed to bring stability to his war-torn country.
"On the security front the entire NATO exercise was one that caused Afghanistan a lot of suffering, a lot of loss of life, and no gains because the country is not secure," Karzai told the BBC.
He remained critical of the U.S.-led military operation, saying allied forces focused too much on Afghan villages and not enough on Taliban strongholds across the border in Pakistan.
Karzai has another six months left in office before a successor is elected to take his place. He's now engaged in a dialogue with Taliban leaders to find a political solution and bring them into a power-sharing deal with the government, the BBC said Monday.
"They are Afghans. Where the Afghan president, the Afghan government can appoint the Taliban to a government job they are welcome," he said. "But where it's the Afghan people appointing people through elections to state organs, then the Taliban should come and participate in elections."
