Karzai Takes a Final Swipe at US

Sean Gallup/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai punctuated his contentious relationship with the U.S. Tuesday by claiming that Washington wanted war in his country for its own self-interests.

Karzai, who served two terms in office, will step down Monday when President-elect Ashraf Ghani is inaugurated.

In his final public remarks as president, Karzai thanked various countries for their aid and assistance in Afghanistan’s 13-year-long war against the Taliban, which began with an American-led invasion following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

However, Karzai had little nice to say about U.S. or Afghanistan’s perpetual rival, Pakistan.

Karzai remarked, “I have always said this: that If America and Pakistan really want it, it is possible to bring peace to Afghanistan.”

“War in Afghanistan is based on the aims of foreigners. The war in Afghanistan is to the benefit of foreigners. But Afghans on both sides are the sacrificial lambs and victims,” Karzai said.

Karzai has repeatedly criticized the U.S. and NATO for friendly fire incidents that have left Afghan civilians dead, although the overwhelming majority of people killed during the war came at the hands of the Taliban and its militant allies.

More than 2,200 American service personnel have died in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001.

The White House is eager to see Karzai depart so that a Bilateral Security Agreement can be signed, guaranteeing that the U.S. will keep a residual force in Afghanistan after nearly all coalition forces exit by the end of 2014.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio