Karzai asks foreign reconstruction teams to leave Afghanistan over 'hindering governance'

Kabul, Feb 9 (ANI): Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has accused foreign reconstruction teams of obstructing the progress and "hindering the governance" of his country, and asked them to leave as Afghan forces take over security.

The BBC quoted Karzai as saying that the Provincial Reconstruction Teams were like a parallel system of government, and they would have to go.Afghanistan clearly explained its viewpoint on Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and structures parallel to the Afghan government - private security companies and all activities or bodies which are hindering the Afghan government's development and hindering the governance of Afghanistan," he said.

Karzai had openly criticised PRTs and private security firms in the past. He is due to announce a programme for foreign forces to transfer responsibility for security to Afghan forces in March, the report said.

There are currently about 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban insurgency. (ANI)