Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Afghan president visits Taliban spiritual home
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Green blunder hands U.S. draw with England
12 Jun 2010
Obama wants BP to establish spill escrow account
| Video
10:43am EDT
Tsunami alerts canceled after strong Indian Ocean quake
12 Jun 2010
No damage reported from Japanese quake
1:29am EDT
Obama takes aim at Republicans on healthcare
1:05am EDT
Sorry Barack, I'm watching World Cup, says Biden
11 Jun 2010
Stricken teenage U.S. sailor rescued
| Video
2:46am EDT
Green blunder hands U.S. draw with England
2:33am EDT
Report says Pakistan meddling in Afghanistan
9:05am EDT
Accounts of 500 UBS clients already sent to U.S.: report
8:03am EDT
Iceland passes gay marriage law in unanimous vote
11 Jun 2010
Obama wants BP to establish spill escrow account
| Video
10:43am EDT
Green blunder hands U.S. draw with England
12 Jun 2010
Report says Pakistan meddling in Afghanistan
9:05am EDT
Russia sends troops as Kyrgyzstan's ethnic clashes spread
| Video
11:34am EDT
Tsunami alerts canceled after strong Indian Ocean quake
12 Jun 2010
Obama to call for escrow fund for BP claims
10:15am EDT
Google helps build trade case over Web censorship
11 Jun 2010
Woman striving to be world's heaviest
| Video
09 Jun 2010
Sorry Barack, I'm watching World Cup, says Biden
11 Jun 2010
Afghan president visits Taliban spiritual home
KANDAHAR
Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:02am EDT
Related News
U.S., NATO urge patience with slow Afghan progress
Fri, Jun 11 2010
Analysis: Slow Afghan gains weigh on Obama strategy
Fri, Jun 11 2010
British PM rules out more troops for Afghanistan
Thu, Jun 10 2010
McChrystal sees slower pace for Kandahar operation
Thu, Jun 10 2010
Suicide bomber kills dozens at Afghan wedding party
Thu, Jun 10 2010
KANDAHAR Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited the Taliban's spiritual home on Sunday, launching a campaign that promises better governance and development alongside a security push by foreign forces.
World
Accompanied by the commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, Karzai pleaded for support from a gathering of several hundred elders in Kandahar, the city that launched the Taliban and the capital of the province where their insurgency is at its strongest.
"Right now the life of Kandahar is a very bad life," he said at a conference hall in the city. "Step by step, we can go forward."
In recent years Karzai has rarely ventured to Kandahar, where he survived an assassination attempt in 2005. He has strong family roots there, however. His brother chairs the provincial assembly and has been accused of corruption, charges he denies.
Washington's strategy to end the nine-year-old war involves a surge of troops to improve security accompanied by development schemes that provide jobs and an improvement in government services.
Karzai's administration has been accused in the past of not keeping its side of the bargain, but McChrystal said he believed the government was taking action now.
"I thought I saw extraordinary ownership on the part of a national leader," he said.
Foreign troop deployment is expected to peak at 150,000 before U.S. President Barack Obama's planned withdrawal starts in July 2011. Visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron made clear last week he wanted his troops out as soon as possible.
This month alone some 37 foreign service members have died in Afghanistan.
Asked what changes the residents of Kandahar would notice after this operation -- military officials are keen not to use the word "offensive" -- McChrystal said:
"I think it won't look shockingly different than it does now. ... I think it may feel very different."
"There will be more ANP (police). I think more mothers will feel comfortable with their husbands going to the mosque to pray. I think there will be fewer killings. I think there will be a sense that some of the constricting or menacing pressure on the part of the insurgency has been released.
And I hope it is also matched by improvements in governance."
Karzai's brother, Ahmed Wali Karzi, said the Kandahar operation was welcomed by locals. But some remained skeptical.
"In Afghanistan, people first see and then believe," said Ghulam Jilani Popal, head of the Afghan Independent Directorate of Local Government.
(Writing by David Fox from pool notes; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)
World
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Sunday, 13 June 2010 UN reviewing Taliban, al-Qaida sanctions list
US teen sailor en route to French island: official
UN reviewing Taliban, al-Qaida blacklist
France plans to cut spending by 45 bln euros
Suspected Israeli spy arrested over Hamas killing
|
5 Afghan police, 2 NATO servicemen die in blasts
Kaczynski narrows gap in race for Polish president
|
France announces 45 bln euros in spending cuts by 2013
5 Afghan police, NATO serviceman die in blasts
Thousands of Italians march over austerity plan
|
Swiss bus crash kills two in Canadian tour group
|
Iraq rivals meet on government, no sign of breakthrough
|
Kyrgyzstan government authorises deadly force to stem unrest
Pacy South Korea see off disappointing Greece
South Korea get first win of World Cup finals
Iran aid ships for Gaza awaiting ministry nod
Slovak ruling party gets most votes but no majority
Vuvuzelas stir online debate at World Cup
Foxconn suicide probe to be made public
|
Lending constraints keep Europe central banks on alert
US urges Iran to free political prisoners, US hikers
Belgians vote after debate on splitting country
|
Eurozone debt fears force France to pay higher rates
Ethnic riots kill 80 in Kyrgyzstan
|
Iran crushing freedom, opposition says on poll anniversary
Spain, Portugal celebrate 25 years in European community
Slovak right wins vote
|
Slovak ruling party top in vote but no majority: exit poll
UN reviewing Taliban, al-Qaida sanctions list
No damage reported from Japanese quake
|
Report slams Pakistan for meddling in Afghanistan
|
Iran's Guards warn opposition on vote anniversary
|
Two bombs in Thai south kill one, wound 26
|
Suspected Israeli spy arrested over Hamas killing
|
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Powerful quake rattles Indian Ocean islands
Search for flood victims goes from frantic to grim
Critics urge brakes on Vietnam's high-speed rail
In bold move, Colorado alters teacher tenure rules
S.Koreans celebrate World Cup win over Greece
Japan finance minister promises spending review
Rescued US teen sailor vows to do it again
Hong Kong police smash illegal W.Cup betting ring
Johnson lashes out at England rugby players
Tycoon Ambani brothers to compete in India telecoms
India's Commonwealth Games face monsoon test
N.Korea's son 'could face ruinous inheritance'
Maori tattoos getting under the world's skin
In Italy, a university for Slow Food gastronomes
French tourists breathe new life into Iraq's past
Sandcastle dreams buoyed by World Cup
Price of popular Yemeni drug soars during World Cup
Activists cycle for two-wheeled revolution in Lebanon
M.I.A. steps from art underground to media spotlight
|
Fifteen killed in Baghdad bank siege
Race to get Henry's boots to pitch: report
Swiss, Spanish diplomatic chiefs in Libya to end spat
Belgium votes amid fears of a national split
Twelve killed after bombing at Iraq central bank
|
Georgia Teen Bitten By Shark In Florida
Afghan president visits Taliban spiritual home
|
Ocean Gurus Lament Gulf Spill, Say Should Have Been Anticipated
Arab League chief visits Gaza Strip
|
Lightning May Have Sparked NC Gasoline Fire
Chevron Pipeline Leaks 20,000 Gallons Of Crude Oil Into Utah Creek
Yemen security official and 2 soldiers killed in south
|
Oil Container Washes Ashore Panama City Beach
Clash between Somalia police and soldiers kills 13
|
Woman Gives Birth On Board American Airlines Flight
As Oil Spill Spreads To Central Florida, So Do Protests Against BP
Spirit Airline Pilots Strike; Airline Future Uncertain
Egypt prepares new law for non-Muslims
|
Senators Prepare for BP Oil Leak Moving Up Atlantic Coast
U.S. Markets Shake Off Weak Retail Sales, Finish Higher
Crews search for victims after Ark. floods kill 18
Japan asteroid probe on track to return to Earth
Surf up, beer on ice: Aussie fans enjoy home from home
Germany seek Aussie tonic for World Cup boost
'Substantial progress' in China-Taiwan trade talks
S.Korea tightens rules on foreign currency
SKorea announces plan to battle capital volatility
China warns local govt on investment agencies
Film '3 Idiots' sweeps annual Bollywood roadshow
2 more Japan theaters cancel dolphin hunt film
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights