Karzai calls on Taliban to join peace process
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on Taliban militants to lay down arms and join the peace process in his first press conference on Tuesday after winning the presidential polls.
"I want the Taliban to give up resistance, return home and help stabilize security in the country," Karzai told a news conference.
Flanked by his deputies Mohammad Qasim Fahim and Mohammad Karim Khalili, he also called on the world community to help the Afghan government achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan.
"I want the Taliban to return home and in this regard we need the support of international community," the Afghan president added.
Karzai also stressed that his administration wants to strengthen Afghanistan's relations with the neighboring states, international community, in particular with the Untied States.
Ruling the post-Taliban Afghanistan over the past eight years since the collapse of the Taliban regime by the U.S.-led military coalition, and announced as winner by the election body on Monday, Karzai said his new administration would be a government of unity to represent all Afghans.
He also promised to fight against corruption, a menace that has defamed his administration in the past.
The Afghan election body - Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Monday announced Karzai as winner of the runoff vote just a day after his rival Abdullah Abdullah quitted the race over what he described "biased stance of IEC" towards the sitting president.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. President Barack Obama, Pakistani Prime Minister Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have congratulated Karzai on his reelection.
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