He was also broadly critical of NATO, saying the intended departure of NATO troops in 2014 was "good for Afghans."

NATO plans to withdraw most combat troops by that date, but is currently negotiating what sort of long-term presence they might have here.

Mr Karzai called the national assembly, or loya jirga, to sound out tribal elders on a long-term pact with the US military and harness their consent.

The conditions Mr Karzai spelled out on a long-term foreign military presence were mostly formalizations of long-held Afghan complaints about the international presence here.

He said a deal that enabled US forces to have bases in Afghanistan is beneficial but added they would not be able to attack Afghanistan's neighbors from inside the country, conduct night raids, search houses, or arrest Afghans.