Following are excerpts from Khalilzad's press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, on April 22, 2002.

"I have been here now for a few days and I've had discussions with Afghan officials, both from Kabul and various provinces. The issues I've focused on this trip have been security and the political environment in the aftermath of the former King's arrival and the preparations for the Loya Jirga.

I've also had discussions with Chairman Karzai, (Defense) Minister Fahim, and other Afghan leaders on the establishment of the new Afghan Army, the national army. And also, I've had a series of conversations on the status of the international efforts to assist the Afghans with reconstruction. My overall evaluation is that we are essentially on track. I look forward to your questions, and I also want to welcome the Afghan journalists here among you and I look forward to their questions as well.

Q: How can you say things are on track when there are continued attacks on ISAF forces?
Khalilzad: There is the continuing problem of the threat from al Qaeda and the Taliban, that we're dealing with and we're committed to finishing the job. There are also the problems of militias and we are doing what we can to avoid conflict among warlords. But the ultimate answer to the problems of security in Afghanistan is the establishment of the national army. We want to start training that army as soon as possible. We're going to send people here around the beginning of May.

Q: Have you talked to Chairman Karzai about the large amount of Chinese investment in Afghanistan, and is that a concern?

Khalilzad: I've not talked about this issue. We welcome everyone's investment in Afghanistan. This country needs to rebuild itself; it needs everything. As you drive around, walk around, you can see for yourself. What we oppose is activities by other countries that would destabilize the country and undermine the new order.

Q: Do you have any evidence, any specifics or names of anyone who have plotted against the Afghan government?

Khalilzad: I'm not in a position to give you specific names associated with particular plots. But I do regard Mr. Hekmatyar and his activities in Afghanistan as negative. He's been playing a negative role in Afghanistan politics for some time and my evaluation of him and his role has not changed.

Q: What is your evaluation of the former King?

Khalilzad: As you've noticed, his return has been uneventful in terms of any problems. Even some who in the past who had a less than positive attitude toward his return, have spoken very positively about his return. Mr. Rabbani, the former President, I understand, did call on the former King. I also observe that the former King has said that he's not here to restore the monarchy or to assume executive responsibilities but to play a unifying role, a symbolic role. And in my conversations with the former King himself both in Rome and here, he has reiterated those messages to me. And in my conversations with the Afghan leaders, there is broad support for such a role for the former King.

Q: There's a sense of restlessness among the people about economic assistance; how much money is really coming in here?

Khalilzad: I've been coming every few weeks to Kabul since January. I've seen an increase in the pace of economic activity. The international community has committed $1.8 billion to Afghan reconstruction over the next year. The United States has committed some $300 million at the Tokyo conference. The Administration has gone back to the Congress for another almost $300 million supplemental request for this year. We want to call on our partners in the international community to make good on their commitments in the Tokyo conference.

Q: There are rumors that new banknotes are coming from the Northern Alliance; will that affect the Afghani currency?

Khalilzad: Well, the value of a currency is affected by a variety of factors anywhere in the world. The issue here is the control of supply of the currency. I understand that the Afghans will have a new currency. The value of the current currency may be affected not only by the evaluation of the political circumstances and also the anticipation about the steps the Interim Authority might or might not take in the interim while the new currency is being prepared and presented to market.

Q: What about the US, will it help pay the salaries of the First Battalion of the Afghan Army?

Khalilzad: The First Battalion of the Afghan National Guard was trained by the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and the US government has not had a direct role with regard to that unit. There are issues with regard to responsibilities of various agencies in looking after this particular unit, and I hope and anticipate those issues will be resolved in the immediate future.

Q: What is the US doing to compensate the victims of bombing raids?

Khalilzad: I served in the Department of Defense, some of you know that, and I know that we do our very best to avoid any civilian casualties but war is not a perfect business. Improvements have been made in technology with regard to precision weapons, and our people are extremely careful. But nevertheless, sometimes things do happen, and when they do, we do investigate. If mistakes have been made and innocent people have been targeted, we do the right thing, and I think that will remain the US policy.

Q: What is the right thing?

Khalilzad: We do what we think is appropriate in helping the victims.

Q: Has there been any effort to determine the extent of the victims of American bombings? Any idea on the number of casualties?

Khalilzad: You should ask CENTCOM or the Department of Defense for more details. But in terms of our overall policy direction on this, that's where I come into the picture, I've given you what I think is our attitude. We do the best we can to avoid civilian casualties, when there are charges, we investigate, and if we have made mistakes, we do the right thing.

Q: Have you received money from Enron Corporation?

Khalilzad: No. I've never had any dealings with Enron.

Q: What is America's view of the Loya Jirga?

Khalilzad: We support the Loya Jirga. We think this will be an important exercise in Afghanistan's self-determination and shifting the emphasis in Afghan politics from rule by gun to rule by people deciding for themselves their future. We will do what we can to assist, with regard to logistics, monitoring, and other forms of support for this meeting. The US government has given a grant of $1.2 million to the Asia Foundation to assist with the monitoring of Loya Jirga. I'm delighted to say that on many of the key issues that were agreed to in the Bonn Agreement, we are on track.

Q: A convoy of a group of tribal elders was bombed last December, why is the US government not doing the right thing for them?

Khalilzad: Let me say on that. There was an investigation....

Q: Those were not Taliban or al Qaeda fighters, those were tribal leaders.

Khalilzad: There may be a difference in assessment at times. That doesn't mean that when I say 'we assess the situation in terms of what has happened,' that necessarily that means we agree with all the charges that someone makes. If our investigation does not support the charges someone makes it does not mean we are unresponsive.

Q: In the December case, Chairman Karzai says they were tribal elders; the US does not agree with Mr. Karzai, is that what you're saying?

Khalilzad: What we say is that there were undesirable elements present in the convoy that was involved at that time. For the details of that, I would again refer you to CENTCOM and the Department of Defense.

Q: Is it in the best interest of the United States to have Hamid Karzai as the next leader of Afghanistan?

Khalilzad: The choice of who the leader of Afghanistan ought to be is an Afghan decision; it's not an American decision. Chairman Karzai has done very well in our view as the leader of Afghanistan, but who they select for their leader is their decision. That's in part what this is all about, what we've been trying to do in Afghanistan, to assist in providing the Afghans an opportunity to decide their own political future.

Q: US pledged $297 million; what percentage of that money has come in?

Khalilzad: We are pretty much on a fast track in committing these resources to projects. Others may correct me on this, but I think we have obligated over $200 million. There are projects to which money has been committed; some of those projects, such as the distribution of seeds for the spring planting, have taken place

Q: Some are complaining the funds are taking too long, that the pipeline is a long one?

Khalilzad: I agree with the assessment that these things take a while. But I think you had to make a comparative statement, I think you would find that the U.S. is on a faster track than many others. All I can say is that over $200 million has been obligated.

Q: How do you assess the King's return to Afghanistan?

Khalilzad: The fact that he has returned, itself, is an indication of confidence, not only about the current situation because as you know, many people assumed he would not come back. He's here. Also, I think it's a sign of confidence about the future, that he anticipates things to improve, and I think he can assist in improving the environment.

Q: Has the issue of an oil pipeline ever come up in your discussions with Afghan officials?

Khalilzad: Certainly, it does come up because that's what the Interim Authority leaders would like to see happen -- a pipeline built across their country. Infrastructure projects of other kinds -- roads, railways, bridges, you name them, they are very ambitious and impatient about things happening here. But I'm not aware of any specific project that people have made offers to come and do things in terms of building those pipelines. I understand their dreams and desires, and I think they are understandable.

Q: If they were not all undesirables in the December convoy, will those people get any compensation?

Khalilzad: Different people looking at the same incident could say things that, from their perspective, there are elements of truth to them. They could disagree with each other and honorably so, without meaning to undermine each other. These are complicated things, some of you have served in the military, some have not, but I can assure you of this that we try our darned best to avoid hitting innocent targets, that's not what we're about. Mistakes do happen. When charges are made, we investigate, and then we do the right thing to respond to the needs of those who have suffered.

Q: Has there been any initiative to assess the number of civilian victims, or is that not in the works?

Khalilzad: I would refer you to the Pentagon whether there has been an overall assessment.