Hamid Karzai

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) arrives for a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai speaks to journalists after a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai arrives for a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai delivers a speech during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghanistan's Ppresident Hamid Karzai (C) arrives for a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) delivers a speech during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai's Chief of Staff, Umar Daudzai looks on during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai admitted October 25 that his chief of staff had received 'bags of money' from Iran but insisted the payment was transparent and a form of aid from a friendly country.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) speaks to journalists after a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C/R) shakes hands with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (C/L) after a press conference at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (R) shakes hands with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (L) after a press conference at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) speaks to journalists after a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (R) and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (L) arrive to address a press conference at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai speaks to journalists after a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C) arrives for a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai arrives for a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai (C) arrives for a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai speaks to journalists after a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on November 23, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied today meeting a purported top Taliban negotiator as claimed by The New York Times. The US newspaper said a man claiming to be Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour was in fact an impostor. The Washington Post quoted Afghan officials as saying that the man was a lowly shopkeeper from the Pakistani city of Quetta. NATO and Afghan officials told the Times they met the fake Taliban leader three times and that he was flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace to meet Karzai.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai talks during a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 4, 2010. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said that he doubted that US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks were real.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) and his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon confer during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a joint press conference with unseen Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai admitted October 25 that his chief of staff had received 'bags of money' from Iran but insisted the payment was transparent and a form of aid from a friendly country.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a joint press conference with unseen Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai admitted October 25 that his chief of staff had received 'bags of money' from Iran but insisted the payment was transparent and a form of aid from a friendly country.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (2nd L) walks in Bagram Airfield during a visit on May 8, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said May 8 that the United States and its allies still have a long way to go before their security operations are successful in his country.'We have traveled far together, but the international effort in Afghanistan still has miles to go,' Karzai wrote in an op-ed piece in The Washington Post.'We are not yet delivering security to large portions of the country.'

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) shakes hands with his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) and his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon sign documenta before a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (2nd L) walks in Bagram Airfield during a visit on May 8, 2010. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said May 8 that the United States and its allies still have a long way to go before their security operations are successful in his country.'We have traveled far together, but the international effort in Afghanistan still has miles to go,' Karzai wrote in an op-ed piece in The Washington Post.'We are not yet delivering security to large portions of the country.'

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) and his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon confer during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) and his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon look on during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai gestures as he addresses a press conference at The Presidential Palace in Kabul on September 17, 2010. President Hamid Karzai called on all Afghans, including Taliban militants, to vote in the country's parliamentary election at the weekend.'We hope that our people in every corner of our country, in every city of our country and every province will go to polling stations and vote for their favourite candidate and through the vote lead our country to further stability,' he said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) shakes hands with his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) and his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon leave following a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) talks with his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon during a joint press conference at the Presidential palace in Kabul on October 25, 2010. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon on October 25 headed to Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 25: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon is in Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 25: Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon listens to his counterpart from Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon is in Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 25: Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his counterpart from Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon is in Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 25: Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon listens to his counterpart from Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon is in Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 25: Afghan president Hamid Karzai's Chief of Staff, Umar Daudzai looks on during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon is in Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region. The press conference comes in the wake of an acknowledgment that Karzai accepted 'bags of money' from the Iranian government.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 25: Afghan president Hamid Karzai's Chief of Staff, Umar Daudzai looks on during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace on October 25, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon is in Kabul for two days of talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai focused on the deteriorating security situation in the region. The press conference comes in the wake of an acknowledgment that Karzai accepted 'bags of money' from the Iranian government.