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President Karzai: “Extremists See a Democratic Afghanistan as a Threat to their Interests in the Region”
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 On November 18, President Karzai spoke about Afghanistan’s achievements over the last five years at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi.
On the topic of health, President Karzai stated, “The Ministry of Health has successfully increased access to health services from 8% to 80%. With help from the international community, the Government has delivered health care services to the people by building dozens of clinics and hospitals throughout the country.” He also noted progress made in other sectors such as education, communications, and roads. President Karzai called extremism the main impediment to development in Afghanistan and the region. “Extremists see a democratic Afghanistan as a threat to their interests in the region,” he emphasized. In response to a question about negotiating with the insurgents, the President answered, “For the sake of peace in Afghanistan, we are ready to negotiate with everyone, but anyone who has committed crimes or is committing them against the people must be brought to justice.” President Karzai ended by saying, “Instability in Afghanistan threatens the progress and development of the entire region. Only continued cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism will benefit countries in the region.” |