Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the latest leader to condemn the recent anti-Western rhetoric from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, calling it "unacceptable."
"What I have seen reported is completely unacceptable," Harper told reporters Wednesday. "We have men and women over there putting their lives on the line to help the population in its struggle against the Taliban.
"These remarks are not helpful . . . they are completely unacceptable to Canada and I'm sure the same for all of our allies."
Karzai's remarks appear to have been the culmination of months of frustration with the West. Last week, he lashed out against the United Nations, accusing them of orchestrating a "vast fraud" in last summer's presidential elections. He said it was as part of a conspiracy to deny him re-election or tarnish his victory. The U.S. and the United Nations have denied the accusations.
Meanwhile, Karzai's staff and Afghan diplomats have been working overtime to downplay his recent purported threat to quit the political process and join the Taliban.
Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada, Jawed Ludin says the comments need to be understood in their greater context, which includes the fact that Karzai is under immense pressure to maintain support for NATO operations in his country, while attempting to reform corruption in his government.
The remarks came Saturday during a closed-door meeting with selected lawmakers. They followed a diplomatic controversy in which Karzai fumed about what he considers Washington's heavy hand in his government, with the U.S. demanding that he clean up political corruption.
Karzai reportedly told the lawmakers at the meeting that he was tired of the foreign pressure, and that if it continued, he himself might join the Taliban. His spokesman denied the president made such remarks.
Ludin was quick to point out that the accounts of what Karzai said came through hearsay and from parliamentarians who are not friendly to him. Nevertheless, Ludin added, the comments should not be taken literally.
"Just think about it… for a president of Afghanistan to go over and join the Taliban? It's absolutely ridiculous. So that shouldn't be taken seriously and I'm really surprised the media has taken it that seriously," Ludin told CTV's Canada AM Wednesday.
"Even if he said something like that, it would be just a turn of phrase. And I know him; he has some turns of phrase. But he doesn't really mean what has been understood."
Reports of the comments stunned the White House who said they found Karzai's threats to abandon the political process troubling.
"On behalf of the American people, we're frustrated with the remarks," Gibbs told reporters Tuesday.
Ludin noted that Karzai is fully aware that he needs the support of the West, and the tens of thousands of U.S., Canadian and NATO forces to prop up his government
"It's very clear in his mind that he would not be able to run the country or build the country in the direction he wants without U.S. support. That's clear to him," Ludin said.
"But I think there are times when he has to be given that space when he has to express things just to make a point. He shouldn't be misunderstood. The concern (from the White House) is understandable, but you have to watch where he goes rather than what he says."
Some have also noted that Karzai made the comments at a time when many average Afghans are looking back wistfully to the days when the Taliban, though harsh, at least brought peace and consistency to their lives.
It may be that Karzai is hoping that by blaming foreign interference for ongoing instability in Afghanistan, he can win the support of average Afghans, who have a long tradition of resisting occupation.
Yet Karzai's remarks have angered the White House and prompted them to suggest that an upcoming meeting between the Afghan president and U.S. officials might have to be cancelled.
Ludin said he hopes that doesn't happen.
"I would really hope that the meeting in May would go forward and would not be cancelled. Because it's not just about the relationship between Karzai and the White House; it's about Afghanistan. It's about the partnership. It's about the lives of Afghans. And it's also about the lives of American and Canadians."
With reports from Associated Press
