(CNN) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday the United States and its allies must have patience if his country is not ready to assume control of its own security by July 2011, when U.S. troops would begin leaving under President Obama's plan.



Karzai spoke to CNN's "Amanpour" program in his first television interview since Obama's announcement last week that he will deploy an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Obama also said the U.S. forces would begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in July 2011.



The date was not "an exit announcement," but instead a goal for Afghan forces to be able to start assuming security control from U.S.-led allied forces, Karzai said in the interview.



"We will try our best as the Afghan people to do it the soonest possible," Karzai said. "But the international community must have also the patience with us and the realization of the realities in Afghanistan. If it takes longer, then they must be with us."



Karzai also offered his own timeline goal, saying Afghanistan wants to be able to assume security control in some parts of the country in two years, and to lead security for the entire country by the end of his five-year term, which just started after his recent re-election.



"We as Afghans will try our very best to reach that goal, and we hope our allies will back us to reach that goal," Karzai said.



Later Sunday, Obama's national security adviser, retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones, told CNN's "State of the Union" that the July 2011 date was "not a cliff" for U.S. withdrawal, but instead the start of a gradual slope for turning over security responsibility to Afghanistan.



Obama "has also said that we're not leaving Afghanistan," Jones noted, adding: "We are here to make sure that Afghanistan succeeds."



To prepare his country, Karzai said, he would do all he can to root out corruption and improve governance. He has fired corrupt officials already, he said, adding he is prepared to act against anyone proven to be breaking the law.



However, he warned against other nations using the corruption as a political tool in making decisions about Afghanistan. And he said the United States and its allies also must halt practices that contribute to corruption from outside the country or create what he called "parallel" governance issues.



The main objective for Afghanistan and its allies is to defeat terrorism and return peace to the nation, neighboring Pakistan and the region, Karzai said. That means training Afghan security forces, rebuilding the economy and other nation-building efforts, he said.



"I have fired people and I will be firing people," Karzai said. He seemed to laugh when he was played a video clip of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs saying the United States would bypass corrupt government officials if necessary.



"Afghanistan is a sovereign country, it has a sovereign government, it's not an occupied country," Karzai said, adding that a foreign power can't undermine or go around the government to deal with whomever it chooses.



Top priorities on a "long list" of reforms include improving the rule of law, improving the judiciary, reducing bureaucracy that forces people to visit dozens of offices to get licenses, and other steps to make the government more transparent and simpler, Karzai said.



However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in interviews broadcast Sunday that Karzai still must prove he means what he says.



"The proof is in the pudding," Clinton said on the ABC program "This Week." "We're going to have to wait to see how it unfolds."



U.S. assistance will be "based on a certification of accountability and transparency," Clinton said on the CBS program "Face the Nation," adding that "certain ministries ... American money will not be going to."



In his CNN interview, Karzai said his government would welcome Taliban supporters who had no ties to al Qaeda or other terrorist networks, renounced violence and pledged to support the constitution.



Clinton told
( CNN ) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday the United States and its allies must have patience if his country is not ready to assume control of its own security by July 2011 , when U.S. troops would begin leaving under President Obama 's plan . Karzai spoke to CNN 's " Amanpour " program in his first television interview since Obama 's announcement last week that he will deploy an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan . Obama also said the U.S. forces would begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in July 2011 . The date was not " an exit announcement , " but instead a goal for Afghan forces to be able to start assuming security control from U.S.-led allied forces , Karzai said in the interview . " We will try our best as the Afghan people to do it the soonest possible , " Karzai said . " But the international community must have also the patience with us and the realization of the realities in Afghanistan . If it takes longer , then they must be with us . " Karzai also offered his own timeline goal , saying Afghanistan wants to be able to assume security control in some parts of the country in two years , and to lead security for the entire country by the end of his five - year term , which just started after his recent re - election . " We as Afghans will try our very best to reach that goal , and we hope our allies will back us to reach that goal , " Karzai said . Later Sunday , Obama 's national security adviser , retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones , told CNN 's " State of the Union " that the July 2011 date was " not a cliff " for U.S. withdrawal , but instead the start of a gradual slope for turning over security responsibility to Afghanistan . Obama " has also said that we 're not leaving Afghanistan , " Jones noted , adding : " We are here to make sure that Afghanistan succeeds . " To prepare his country , Karzai said , he would do all he can to root out corruption and improve governance . He has fired corrupt officials already , he said , adding he is prepared to act against anyone proven to be breaking the law . However , he warned against other nations using the corruption as a political tool in making decisions about Afghanistan . And he said the United States and its allies also must halt practices that contribute to corruption from outside the country or create what he called " parallel " governance issues . The main objective for Afghanistan and its allies is to defeat terrorism and return peace to the nation , neighboring Pakistan and the region , Karzai said . That means training Afghan security forces , rebuilding the economy and other nation - building efforts , he said . " I have fired people and I will be firing people , " Karzai said . He seemed to laugh when he was played a video clip of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs saying the United States would bypass corrupt government officials if necessary . " Afghanistan is a sovereign country , it has a sovereign government , it 's not an occupied country , " Karzai said , adding that a foreign power ca n't undermine or go around the government to deal with whomever it chooses . Top priorities on a " long list " of reforms include improving the rule of law , improving the judiciary , reducing bureaucracy that forces people to visit dozens of offices to get licenses , and other steps to make the government more transparent and simpler , Karzai said . However , U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in interviews broadcast Sunday that Karzai still must prove he means what he says . " The proof is in the pudding , " Clinton said on the ABC program " This Week . " " We 're going to have to wait to see how it unfolds . " U.S. assistance will be " based on a certification of accountability and transparency , " Clinton said on the CBS program " Face the Nation , " adding that " certain ministries ... American money will not be going to . " In his CNN interview , Karzai said his government would welcome Taliban supporters who had no ties to al Qaeda or other terrorist networks , renounced violence and pledged to support the constitution . Clinton told
Who is the president of Afganistan?
Who is the president of Afganistan ?
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai