A CONVERSATION WITH HAMID KARZAI

Because of the death of Bhutto?

Because of her death, because of the bomb blasts, because of the suicide bombs killing people in mosques. It's unbelievable. It is impossible for us -- even if you want to ignore this in Pakistan -- to ignore it any more. How can we deny it?

So the president agreed with you that it is impossible.

To deny? Oh, he absolutely agrees that there is a problem and that we have to fix it.

There are a lot of complaints about corruption in Afghanistan.

There is, there is, yes.

What can you do to combat corruption, even in official circles?

Corruption is in official circles. Corruption is in governments or in industry.

Can you fire people? What can you do?

We do fire people. We do a lot of those things, but that is not the only answer to corruption. You see, corruption is the consequence of the weakness of the overall Afghan system and the arrival of a lot of money and the arrival of NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and international partners. Now, we cannot correct corruption by action against corruption in a criminal way only. We have to improve standards in Afghanistan by having better, more properly equipped administration, better human capital, better human resources, better skills. And police. And law enforcement. And relevant laws. In other words, the society has to grow -- all aspects of it -- from the present base, which is weak, to a stronger base into the future. Then we'll be able to end corruption.

How much influence does Iran have in your country right now, Mr. President?

We have had a particularly good relationship with Iran the past six years. It's a relationship that I hope will continue. We have opened our doors to them. They have been helping us in Afghanistan. The United States very wisely understood that it is our neighbor and encouraged that relationship. I hope Iran would also understand that the United States is a great ally of ours and that we value that alliance with the United States. So that is the foundation of our relations with them, and I hope that it will continue as it is.

So in other words, you don't agree with President Bush's assessment of Iran.

On which question?

He called it part of the "axis of evil." And there's been a lot of discussion about a nuclear program.

We don't like a nuclear region, of course. Nobody wants nuclear weapons. Who wants to have weapons of destruction around their homes? Nobody. But the United States has been very understanding and supportive that Afghanistan should have a relationship with Iran.

Are you going to run for another term in 2009?

Well, I have things to accomplish. Who was it who wrote -- Robert Frost? -- "The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep."