Afghans must stand on their own feet: Karzai

KABUL: Afghans should stand on their own feet to save their country from further foreign meddling, President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday, listing a lack of rule of law and the drugs trade as the main challenges.   

Afghanistan has relied largely on Western troops for its security and on donor funds for its economy since US-led forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001.   

But frustration is growing with Karzai's government, not only among ordinary Afghans but the country's foreign backers too, over rampant corruption, security and the booming heroin trade.   

Speaking at a gathering in Kabul, Karzai said Afghans should stop complaining that Afghanistan has been destroyed by Soviet occupation in the 1980s or interference from other countries such as Iran and Pakistan.   

"The time has come for all of us Afghans, old and young, poor and rich ... to not accuse foreigners for the deterioration of our country's situation," he told the gathering of hundreds of provincial leaders and tribal chiefs, including a small group of women.   

It was his first public appearance since surviving an apparent assassination attempt nearly two weeks ago when rockets were fired at a meeting he was addressing outside the capital.   

Tuesday's jirga -- or gathering of elders and luminaries -- was held under tight security at a high school just metres away from Karzai's heavily fortified presidential palace.   

"The time has come for us to strengthen ourselves...with a strong army and police and economy ... so that no one finds the opportunity for interference," he said.   

To achieve that, Karzai said, Afghans needed to focus on education.   

Enforcement of the rule of law was the second most important thing, he noted, adding that the lack thereof was a "major danger" for Afghanistan and would create a wedge between the government and people.   

Karzai repeated that Afghanistan's opium industry -- the country supplies over 90 percent of the world's heroin -- was another great threat. He warned that foreign supporters would resort to more drastic measures, such as crop spraying, if soaring cultivation was not stopped.   

Several delegates took the opportunity to speak after Karzai finished his speech to complain about their current circumstances.   

One complained that cabinet ministers were driving in posh vehicles worth tens of thousands of dollars that would be better spent building schools.   

Another demanded better coordination between foreign forces and the government while carrying out operations against the Taliban and their allies.   

More than 120 civilians have been killed in recent months during foreign troop operations, according to Afghan officials and witnesses. The deaths have sparked a series of protests, including demands for Karzai's resignation and withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces.   

A group that represents several local non-governmental organisations said more than 230 civilians had been killed in crossfire this year.