On December 12, President Karzai chaired an extraordinary session of the regular  Policy and Action Group meeting in the province of Kandahar.

Afghan authorities as well as senior representatives from international community attended the meeting: Hedayat Amin Arsala, Afghan senior minister, General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Minister of Defense, Zarar Ahmad Moqbel Minister of Interior, Anwarulhq Ahadi, Minister of Finance, Hanif Atmar, Minister of Education, Ehsan Zia, Minister of Rural Development and Rehabilitation,   Karim Khurm, Minister of Culture and Youth, Habibullah Qaderi, Minister of Anti-narcotics, Dr. Zalmai Rasool, National Security Advisor, Dr. Eshaq Naderi, Senior Economic Advisor, Amrullah Saleh, Director of National Directorate of Security, governors of the provinces of Kandahar, Urozgan, Helmand and Zabul, ambassadors of US, Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, UN and European Union representatives, and NATO-led ISAF commanders.

Issues discussed by Afghan government authorities and representatives of the international community included expansion of security and reconstruction efforts in the provinces of Kandahar, Uruzgan, Helmand and Zabul, convening of regional Peace Jirgas, avoiding civilian casualties during military operations targeting terrorists.

The President said, “Afghan government with help from its international partners is trying hard to strengthen security in the southwestern  and other parts of the country, so that reconstruction efforts are expedited  and public services delivered in the best possible way to people.”

The President said ensuring  security was among the government priorities and added  “The children of Afghanistan should go to schools in a safe and terror-free environment.”

The fourth Policy and Action Group meeting was held in Kandahr to tackle  security and reconstruction issues in the southwestern provinces, and the problems of these provinces were discussed during the meeting.

In a press conference held after the meeting of the Policy and Action Group, President Hamid Karzai told reporters about the decisions made in the meeting and said: important decisions were made concerning security, reconstruction, strengthening of the police and army forces,  seeking effective ways of fighting terrorism and launching of constructive  projects in the provinces of Kandahar, Urozgan, Zabul and Helmand were made.

The President said, “In the extraordinary meeting of Policy and Action in Kandahar, the US ambassador to Afghanistan pledged an amount of $150 million for resumption of reconstruction work of the Kajaki hydro-power station, to be completed in a two years time.”

President Hamid Karzai added, “Minister of Education reported on the completion of work of Mohamadia masque, madrassa and dormitory. Decisions were taken  for reopening  259 additional schools. An additional $ 20 million was decided to be allocated  for reconstruction projects for the provinces of Kandahar, Zabul, Urozgan and Helmand.”

Answering  to a question concerning civilian casualties during the military operations, President Karzai said, “The NATO commander assured us of full caution and further coordination with Afghan security forces before any military operation is conducted, so that civilian casualties be avoided.”

In response to another question about the Peace Jirgas, the President said, “ We hope tht these Jirgas which are beneficial for our countries could bring peace and security to the  region.

Pointing out to the current insecurity in Pakistan, the President said, “The insecurity prevailing in Baluchistan and other parts of Pakistan is due to existence of  the terrorists bases there. Unless the bases are eliminated, insecurity will continue to prevail.