Karzai's tightrope act...

President Karzai, visiting Shindand district (near the Iranian border), had to walk a fine line in a speech that followed a series of civilian deaths at the hands of international forces. Karzai criticized the tactics of these forces--even as he argued the need to their continued presence. (In a separate interview with
Pakistan television he said "Foreign troops would not leave till Al Qaeda, which is active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, is wiped out, and this may take two or three years or more.") He criticized the Taliban for targeting civilians even while saying that crimes committed by genuine Afghan Taliban (as opposed to foreign jihadists) were forgivable, and even as he urged Mullah Omar to join him in talks.

Karzai is put in an exceedingly difficult position by the recent civilian deaths. He has long called for restraint in air-strikes and search and seizure tactics, but it’s clear that international forces will do what they see fit regardless of his protests. The president assured the crowd in Shindand that it would not happen again, but does anyone believe he can really deliver on this promise?