Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked the international community to "be realistic" saying corruption in our government and society cannot be eliminated overnight.
"I am a realist. I know that corruption in our government and society cannot be eliminated overnight. We cannot even eliminate it in years," Karzai said opening a three-day conference on corruption attended by the US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry.
Appealing to all concerned to acknowledge the problem first, he stressed the goal is not to take unrealistic and unreal steps, measures which are only words and will achieve nothing practical.
"We should do that which brings results," he said and called for large-scale reforms to root out bribery and graft that permeated ministries and state offices.
Karzai, who was re-elected in August following a controversial presidential election marred by allegations of massive fraud, is under intense Western pressure to crack down on graft.
Karzai faced an international backlash over allegations that he influenced the outcome of the presidential elections. His challengers alleged widespread voter intimidation while UN officials found out overwhelming evidence of poll rigging.
Even a month after being sworn in for a second term, Karzai is still struggling to cobble a credible Cabinet acceptable both at home and abroad, in a bid to end months of political uncertainty.
Tuesday's conference came a month after Afghanistan formed a new crime unit to investigate and prosecute corrupt officials and as Karzai prepares for an international conference in London next month to tackle the issue.
Meanwhile, Washington stressed that the government reforms must play a role in its revised war plan to send some 30,000 additional soldiers to Afghanistan or risk the Karzai Cabinet being bypassed in favor of lower level officials in an effort to provide services.
The conference was preceded by a car-bomb explosion at a checkpoint in front of the Heetal Plaza Hotel close to the diplomatic center of Kabul, killing more than 10 people and damaging several nearby buildings.
Karzai's office issued a statement terming the attack as against the principles of Islam and called on the security institutions to identify and bring to justice those who masterminded the attack.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.