17:10/08:01:2010

The US defence secretary, on an unannounced visit to Afghanistan , has warned of tough fighting ahead in the war-devastated country. However, he also saw reason for optimism.

At a joint news conference with the Afghan president here on Monday, Robert Gates said: "There is still much fighting ahead, and there will assuredly be some dark days. But looking forward there are grounds for optimism."

He endorsed Hamid Karzai's call for Afghan-led operations to bring security to the country. "It's the only road to success (in Afghanistan )," said the secretary after talks with the president.

The Pentagon chief, who arrived here this morning, voiced Washington 's support for President Karzai's plan to raise the number of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to 300,000 by 2011.

Karzai said he conferred with Gates on the overall regional situation, the successful Afghan-NATO offensive in the Marja district of Helmand and the rebuilding of the town seized from Taliban militants.

In response to a query, the president said his government had asked Pakistan to extradite top-level Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, recently arrested in the neighbouring country.

He added the detainees, when handed over to the Afghan government, would be dealt with according to the law of the land.

With regard to an upcoming peace jirga in Kabul , Karzai promised representatives of all ethnic communities, parliamentarians and foreign delegates would be invited to the gathering, penciled in for April 29.

"We will have the participation of the people of Afghanistan from all walks of life. The objective is to seek guidance from the Afghan people on how to move forward towards reintegration and chart out an action plan in consultation with the people," he explained.

Supportive of Karzai's stand on the issue, the visiting dignitary said thousands of people had joined the Taliban either due to economic compulsions or intimidation of their families by the insurgents. He called for creating conditions to reintegrate them into Afghan society.

While referring to the achievements made, Gates quoted NATO commander Gen. McChrystal as saying that the security situation had improved. He cited substantial civil-military assistance to the country from the global fraternity and expanded Afghanistan-Pakistan cooperation in curbing the cross-border movement of militants.

The defence secretary believed long-term success would come about only when the Afghan government met people's demands with the cooperation of the international community.

With reference to the Marja assault, the biggest in eight years, he said the secret of success in minimising civilian casualties lay in the important and cooperative role played by Afghan security forces.

Of his administration's efforts at combating graft, Karzai told reporters he had asked Gates to give him a list of agreements signed with Afghans by foreign countries without his government being taken into confidence.

He called corruption a real problem plaguing Afghan government institutions and system. The scourge corroded public confidence in the government and undermined its performance, he observed.

"We are duty-bound to eliminate administrative corruption," the president said, hinting that he would soon issue a decree stepping up the campaign against the menace.

Gates also discussed the Marja sweep with Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The commander told him NATO and US troops were ready to take on the Taliban in Kandahar , the birthplace of the rebel movement this summer. (PAN)