Hamid Maybe I'll join the TalibanKarzai Saturday preconditioned peace in Afghanistan before any US permanent bases are established in the country.
Addressing a joint presser with Croatian President in Kabul, President Karzai said any decision on a permanent US military presence in the country must be made by Afghans and after consideration of the concerns of neighbouring countries.
US willingness to set up permanent military bases in Afghanistan has been faced with some opposition within and outside the country.
Previously Russia has opposed the idea of US permanent bases in the country.
In a statement Russian foreign ministry urged the United States of America to stop making any permanent bases in Afghanistan.
"This is not something to be done only by the Afghan government and it neither has the authority. It is Afghans who should come up with a decision," President Karzai said.
"In any case, Afghanistan needs peace as a precondition and it wants to make sure that neighbouring countries don't feel any threats," he further said.
Leader of the major opposition party, Abdullah Abdullah,
... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Hamid Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun...
called on the Afghanistan's Caped President to keep Afghans fully informed about what goes on.
"When they say there has been a suggestion from some US officials about permanent bases, President Karzai is responsible to elaborate to people to what level the suggestion has been made," Dr Abdullah, leader of Change and Hope Coalition, told TOLOnews.
During the presser, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said Croatia is participating in international efforts to spare peace in this country and as you know we increase our presence here up to 350 soldiers.
"Croatia is willing to be involved until necessary in this beautiful country," Ivo Josipovic further said. "We discussed today new models of cooperation especially economical cooperation and education as well."
President Karzai said Afghanistan and Croatia will keep in touch in education sector, and moving towards 2014 defence and technical cooperation between the two nations would increase.
Croatia has around 130 soldiers in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
President Karzai again used the presser to call for an end to night raids conducted by foreign forces.