Outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai has used his farewell speech to take one last swipe at the United States and Pakistan, blaming both countries for the continuing war with the Taliban.
Speaking at a farewell gathering attended by civil servants in the presidential palace on Kabul on September 23, Karzai said, "Peace in Afghanistan depends on America and Pakistan.”
“If they want, peace will return to Afghanistan,” he added.
Karzai rose to power with American support in 2001 after the ousting of the Taliban regime.
He has often criticized the U.S. military campaign that has struggled to defeat the Islamist insurgency and Pakistan for providing a safe heaven to the militants.
Karzai’s successor, President-elect Ashraf Ghani, is to be sworn in on September 29.
Ab/et
