KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the US and Nato troops transferring security to Afghan forces should leave Afghan villages as soon as possible.    

Karzai spoke Saturday on the opening day of a conference to develop Afghanistan's foreign policy strategy for the next three years.

He said international forces will end their combat mission at the end of 2014. But he said that before that — in 2013 — Afghan forces will take charge of securing the entire nation.

Karzai said the sooner that transition can be completed, the better. He said he wanted the international troops to leave Afghan villages, draw back to their bases and slowly withdraw from there.