Karzai seeks Kandahar leaders help and sacrifice in sustained operations against Taliban

Kandahar, June 14(ANI): Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has told local leaders in Kandahar to prepare themselves for sustained operations to rid the area of Taliban insurgents.

"This operation requires sacrifice, and without sacrifice you cannot restore peace to Kandahar. Will you help me?" The New York Times quoted Karzai, as saying.

"We will launch a kind of purification operation. First in the city, and then the surrounding areas," he added.

Karzai further acknowledged the woeful state of security and governance in Kandahar, and said that his government would take every action necessary to tackle the condition. If we don't improve our governance and administration, I swear we won't see peace and stability in the country," he said.

Karzai's comments come ahead of the proposed battle 'Operation Moshtarak Phase II', which is expected to begin this month.

According to reports, the Afghan, American and NATO civilian and military officials, will work on a civilian reconstruction efforts in Kandahar with military action in a supportive role.

In Operation Moshtarak Phase II, civilian aid workers, protected by an increased military force, will try to provide those services first, before any major military action.

"This is not going to be a door-to-door military campaign. You'll see more Afghan National Police checkpoints, but it's not going to be an aggressive military campaign," an American civilian official said. (ANI)