THE HAGUE (AFP) — Afghanistan needs at least a decade to be able to handle its own security, President Hamid Karzai said Monday on a visit to peacekeeping troop contributor The Netherlands.
"Afghanistan ... will have a much better administration by 2010," he told journalists after talks with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in The Hague.
"But that does not mean that Afghanistan will be entirely on its own feet," Karzai added as international forces struggle with the Taliban militia that has been rejuvenated since being ousted in a US-led invasion in 2001.
"It will take much longer for us to be able to fully defend ourselves and run our affairs. At least another 10 years would be required for the whole of the country."
Karzai was asked about the ability of the southern province of Uruzgan -- a stronghold for Taliban extremists intent on toppling his government -- to take over its own security after the withdrawal of Dutch troops set for 2010.
There are nearly 70,000 foreign soldiers from more than 40 nations helping the growing Afghan army and police tackle the insurgents and rising crime.
Currently, nearly 1,800 of them are from The Netherlands, which has lost 16 troops in the peacekeeping effort to which it has contributed some 10,000 soldiers over the past seven years.
Balkenende urged Afghanistan to do more to build its police force.
"NATO, the EU and The Netherlands will be increasing their efforts to train police officers but Afghanistan also needs to do more. Without highly motivated police officers there can be no bright future for Afghanistan."
Standing alongside Karzai, Balkenende said Afghanistan should provide more support to international training efforts, and improve police salaries and working conditions.
Extremist unrest has left 10 policemen, two dozen Taliban fighters and three British soldiers dead since Sunday -- bringing to 100 the number of British troops killed in Afghan peacekeeping since 2001.
Karzai agreed the police force was a matter for concern.
"This is a sector of Afghan security forces which received attention quite late... it is a concern that is achieving attention".
Balkenende said he had discussed human rights with Karzai, underlining Dutch opposition to the death penalty and insisting that people in detention "must be treated fairly."
The Afghan premier said a strong human rights ethos was one of the greatest desires of his people.
"As president of Afghanistan the best day will be the day I am sure that no-one in Afghanistan will have his or her rights violated by an oppressive government, by a bad law, or by other incidents of that kind."
Human rights is expected to be on the agenda of a donors' meeting in Paris this week where Karzai will ask support for a 50 billion dollar development plan.
Balkenende assured Karzai of Dutch support for his country's efforts. "Security in Afghanistan is important for us all, because Afghanistan must never again become a land of fear and terror," he said.
"The hateful Taliban regime must never again be allowed to return."
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