Former president Hamid Karzai said in a TV interview over the weekend that the US is responsible for the death of Afghans, is behind the crisis and only Russia can help Afghanistan.
Speaking to Russia’s NTV, Karzai said countries such as the US and the UK cannot help Afghanistan in its anti-terror efforts.
Only Russia can help Afghanistan in counterterrorism efforts, not the United States that have been killing Afghans for the past 17 years and is behind Afghanistan crisis, former president Hamid Karzai said.
“Neither the Brits, who we have kicked out of the country several times, nor the Americans (can help Afghanistan) as they've been killing us for 17 years; only Russia can (help). We (Afghanistan) are the last barrier from terrorists. We've been fighting continuously for a century and a half. If you (Russia) create new relationships with Pakistan and Afghanistan, you can help,” said Karzai.
Karzai went on to say the US used Afghanistan in the war against the Soviet Union and also created al-Qaeda in military camps in Pakistan.
“Americans lie when they say that al-Qaeda emerged as the result of your [Russia’s] invasion. They used the war to develop al-Qaeda in military camps in Pakistan. They wanted to be the only superpower and they did it. The USSR collapsed and one of the reasons was the Afghan war,” Karzai said.
A number of Afghans however criticized Karzai for his remarks and said the crisis started when the Soviet Union invaded the country.
They said Karzai backs Moscow for his personal interests, not for the sake of national interests.
"Our politicians pay less attention to the national interests, but pay more attention to their personal interests,” Abdul Samim, a Kabul resident said.
"When he (Karzai) was in power, US was good. But now he and his aides that are not in power, they damage the US," Abdul Fatah, another resident of Kabul said.
Some other members of the public meanwhile said Karzai’s statements are his personal views and not that of the people nor government.
“These relationships between countries and individual people question Afghanistan’s national interests,” Lailuma Ahmadi, a senator said.
This comes after Karzai criticized the US for its anti-terror policy and said Daesh had only become stronger in the presence of foreign troops in the country.
Karzai said this while addressing the 7th Moscow Conference on International Security.
The Soviet–Afghan War lasted over nine years, from December 1979 to February 1989.
The mujahideen, as well as smaller groups, fought a war against the Soviet Army and the Afghanistan government, mostly in the provinces. The mujahideen groups were backed primarily by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, making it a Cold War proxy war.
However, between 562,000 and two million civilians were killed in this time and millions of Afghans fled the country as refugees, mostly to Pakistan and Iran.