Karzai flays NATO, US on 'parallel' govt

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai criticized the US and other foreign countries for creating a "parallel government" in the countryside during a blunt overview of Afghanistan's problems before a UN Security Council delegation.

Karzai called on Tuesday for the international community to set a timeline to end the war in Afghanistan and asked why - given the number of countries involved and the amount of money spent - the Taliban remains so powerful.

"This war has gone on for seven years, the Afghans don't understand anymore, how come a little force like the Taliban can continue to exist, can continue to flourish, can continue to launch attacks," he asked.