Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, was frustrated by the Afghan president's blunt call for a reduced military footprint in the country — a remark that threatened to undermine efforts to maintain international support for the war at this week's NATO summit. President Hamid Karzai said in an interview this week that he wanted the coalition to put an end to night raids, which cause friction between Afghans and foreign troops. These operations are a key part in Petraeus' strategy to rout insurgents, improve security and bolster governance and development.
Karzai's spokesman, Waheed Omar, downplayed the president's comments and said he did not think they would affect a NATO conference where attendees will discuss the way Afghan security forces will take the lead in defending and protecting the nation by 2014.
