In a bid to calm down critical voices from the opposing forces and healing the wounds of survivors of a US air strike, Hamid Karzai the President of Afghanistan, made a firm pledge to rebuild the houses of Farah bombing survivors and send them to Hajj on government’s expenses.

Making the pledge and announcing the package to the survivors while in Farah, the province where US bombing killed over 140 civilians and left dozens wounded two weeks ago, Karzai offered prayers for the souls of the victims and for patience for the survivors.

Accompanying the President was the newly appointed American Ambassador (practically more powerful than Karzai) Karl Eikenberry who assured that his country will try its level best to avoid such tragic incidents in the future.

The incident brought shame on the American part while Karzai was touring US along with his Pakistani counter part to see their American boss in White house.

As US led forces are pushing hard to eliminate the Taliban factor from Afghanistan, such incidents are automatically winning sympathy for the Taliban, thus complicating the situation for the American invading forces. The recent addition to US troops and upcoming additional forces won’t be enough to tame the highly mountainous region where Taliban are challenging them in guerrilla warfare.

Karzai, who has to face August 20 elections, is making his efforts to convince the public that he still remains the top person for the job. He had strongly demanded of the US authorities to stop immediately such acts of violence where civilians are involved. Being a powerless president, Karzai has never been able to act independently. The recent bad news for the upcoming president, which most believe will be Karzai, according to New York Times is that Zalmay Khalilzad has negotiated a non-elected post in the new Administration. Khalilzad will virtually be the boss while Karzai will have to obey him.

The more US interference, the more hatred can be predicted from the Public. Historically Afghans have never liked foreign intervention and the situation could become even worse if such a handpicked individual is made the boss.

Karzai has at least got the Afghan Label, Khalilzad practically lacks that. For now, Karzai is making pledges like any other Presidential Candidate and the latest Package for the survivors of US bombings may well prove to be one of his political powerless promises to just calm down the alarm.