KABUL:  Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticized the US for its failure to ensure stability in Afghanistan and combat extremism, saying the country was left in total disaster despite two decades of counterterrorism efforts.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Karzai said, “The international community came here 20 years ago with this clear objective of fighting extremism and bringing stability … but extremism is at the highest point today. So they have failed.”

He opposed the US’ hasty plans to leave the country, claiming Afghanistan was “better off”, arguing that a war “against Afghan villages and hopes” is all that the US has achieved in the Afghan territory.   

He called the withdrawal to be in “disgrace,” arguing, “We recognize as Afghans all our failures, but what about the bigger forces and powers who came here for exactly that purpose? “Where are they leaving us now? In total disgrace and disaster.”

This comes as US and international troops are set to fully withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11 while the Taliban and Afghan forces engage in violent fights across the country.