Outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday the U.S. had failed to bring peace and security to the country that it invaded militarily in 2001.
Mr. Karzai used his farewell speech to government staff to again criticize the US for destabilizing Afghanistan during 13 years of war.
“Afghans are the victims of a foreign war on their own soil,” Mr. Karzai said in the broadcast address. “The U.S. was never keen to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, but rather to pursue its own interests and objectives.”
He blamed outsiders for the recent rise in insurgent attacks, and said peace depended on the Americans and neighbouring Pakistanis.
“Pakistan wants to control our foreign policy, but the Afghan government will never let that happen,” Mr. Karzai said.
He urged the new government to be cautious in dealing with the U.S. and Pakistan. He also pledged to support the new administration.
Ashraf Ghani will take office as the new president on Monday, after months of political deadlock over voting fraud allegations.
