US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton defended Monday the use of precision operations against insurgent leaders in Afghanistan, calling it a "key component" of the strategy, dpa reported.
"We believe that the use of intelligence driven, precision targeted operations against high-value insurgents and their networks is a key component" of the strategy, Clinton said.
Clinton's comments came after Afghan President Hamid Karzai criticized US-led raids intrusive into Afghan daily life. In an interview with the Washington Post, he called for a reduction of US operations and suggested the United States consider winding down its military role.
"The time has come to reduce military operations," Karzai said.
President Barack Obama has identified July as the goal for beginning to transfer security responsibility to the Afghan government. But even with the transition, US and international troops could be in Afghanistan until 2014.