A CONVERSATION WITH HAMID KARZAI

That has to be settled within the countries of NATO. But we are happy for all the contributions the NATO members are making to Afghanistan. We don't get involved in the details of operations. That's the business of NATO.

Do you plan to have more Afghan troops in the future?

We are training them. We so far have trained 57,000 of our troops. We hope that this training will grow to a larger number and to a higher quality. We are satisfied so far with the training of our Afghan army and with the equipment that we have received from the United States. We hope there will be more. We just got the first consignment of our air wing in the Afghan Ministry of Defense -- that's helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. So that is something that we'd like to push forward.

Are there other things that you're asking the U.S. for?

We're asking for the United States to help us in training and equipping a proper army.

And do you feel that the United States is being responsive to your requests?

Quite. Yes, yes.

People talk a lot about opium and opium eradication, and some people have stronger methods of eradicating opium.

Yes, aerial spray and all that.

Which I gather you're opposed to.

Very strongly, yes, very strongly. Opium is a problem for Afghanistan, opium is a problem for the region, and opium is a problem for the international community. It affects our lives all around the world. It is wrong. From any perspective, and for all of us. Therefore we have to in Afghanistan get rid of this menace.

What is the strategy?