Karzai’s other face

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has blamed the US and Nato for the insecurity and lawlessness prevailing in his country; in spite of that he has not been a strong supporter of the quick withdrawal of the foreign forces in his country. The Afghan president is guilty of doubletalk because even when he accused the foreign forces, he did not demand that Nato and US forces leave his country and as soon possible. However, the dire situation in his country affects not just the surrounding region but beyond; as such, his various statements, which seem to be aimed at the audiences on both sides of the fence, causes not just confusion but also worries people and nations with stakes in this area. The night raids of Nato forces on civilian Afghan population reminds people of Gestapo techniques. Deaths of innocent civilians, even students in their early teens, have been in the news. Instant murders of individuals referred to as 'armed enemies' or 'suspected Taliban' at the hands of foreign forces has been frequently reported. There is a feeling that the foreign forces are ready to take lives on mere and slightest of suspicions. What is more, there is also a feeling that the ANA personnel, who participate in these operations, are included to give some legitimacy to these night raids. There is resentment against all these atrocities even among the portion of the population that do not side with the Taliban. Death comes as suddenly to the innocent at the hands of the foreign forces as at the hands of Taliban. Karzai's statements against Nato and US forces, though based on facts, might be to appease the angry portion of his countrymen and women. His anti-US utterances might also be to give an impression of his independence from foreign influences. Karzai's harsh words might simply be to divert the attention of ordinary Afghans and the rest of the world from the many other problems the Kabul government is facing. While there have been unsubstantiated news of massive corruption in Afghanistan making rounds; recently, the Afghan Bank scandal involving millions of dollars have firmed the views about huge embezzlements in the government. There also are reports of NGOs becoming part of power politics in that country; so much so that they are playing a mediatory role between the Taliban on one side and Kabul and Washington on the other. The NGO's role in Afghanistan power politics gives the impression that there are large tracks of land inhabited by huge groups of people in that country where the writ of the government is not even at minimal level. If the Afghan president feels that Nato and US are the cause of turmoil and insecurity in his country, he should be the most ardent supporter of a quick and complete withdrawal of foreign troops; instead, his government has committed to a sizeable number of US troops to stay in Afghanistan even after 2014. Under the circumstances, it is hard to believe that Karazai's statement regarding Nato and US being cause of instability is anything more than rhetoric.