‘Karzai’s anti-US speech puts NATO forces at risk’

Kabul: NATO has warned that international troops in Afghanistan have been put at risk following an ‘inflammatory speech’ by President Hamid Karzai.

On Sunday, Karzai accused the US and the Taliban of colluding to prolong the conflict in the country. US and NATO forces commander Gen Joseph Dunford said in a leaked email that Karzai’s remarks could be a catalyst for some to lash out against our forces, the BBC reports. In a nationally televised speech, Karzai referred to two Taliban attacks on Saturday in Khost and Kabul that left 19 people dead. He suggested both the US and Taliban were trying to convince Afghans the situation would worsen after 2014. In a message sent to senior military commanders, Gen Dunford said the comments might encourage Afghan security forces to attack foreign soldiers, the report said. ANI