With just six months left in office, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is lashing out against the US-led NATO presence for failing to bring stability to his country after more than a decade there, and allegedly causing “great suffering”.

“I am not happy to say that there is partial security. That's not what we are seeking. What we wanted was absolute security and a clear-cut war against terrorism,” said Karzai.

He is blaming NATO for incorrectly focusing the fight in Afghan villages instead of on Taliban safe havens in Pakistan.  Despite that, he’s actively pursuing a possible power-sharing deal with the hardline Islamist group, raising concerns about Afghan women losing the slight gains they’ve made.  During the five years the Taliban ruled Afghanistan prior to the US invasion, Women were banned from jobs, and girls were forbidden to attend schools or universities.

“I have no doubt that there will be more Afghan young girls and women studying and getting higher education and better job opportunities.  There is no doubt about that; even if the Taliban come that will not end, that will not slow down,” Karzai claims.