TOKYO, July 7: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Friday he was concerned about rising violence in his country and called on the international community, especially nations like Pakistan, for more cooperation to fight it.

Violence in Afghanistan is the worst it has been since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, and hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks.

“I am concerned about the rise of violence in Afghanistan, the Afghan people are concerned about the rise of violence in Afghanistan, and the international community is concerned about the rise of violence in Afghanistan,” Mr Karzai told a news conference in Tokyo on the last day of a four-day visit.

Afghan officials have said that a resurgent Taliban would be impossible if the militants were not getting support in Pakistan, and the key to ending the violence is ending that.

“There are external factors, (such as) the continuation of terrorists being able to attack Afghanistan from abroad, and being able to get training and to get equipped and to get financed, and sent to Afghanistan,” Mr Karzai said.

“Afghanistan hopes that Afghanistan and Pakistan and the region can cooperate much more effectively ... and with much more sincerity in order for us to stop terrorism.”

The United Nations has said that Afghanistan’s police force needs rapid reforms, a need that Mr Karzai echoed.—Reuters