Hamid, don't bogart that crack pipe.

Hamid Karzai: Taleban not long term threat.

In an interview with the BBC, a defiant Mr Karzai dismissed threats from the militant group that it plans to step up attacks on the capital, Kabul. Mr Karzai also said international forces in the country should do more to avoid civilian casualties.

Aid agencies say foreign and Afghan forces have killed at least 230 civilians this year.

Earlier, a Taleban spokesman, Zabiyullah Mujahed, told the BBC the militant group was changing its tactics to mount more attacks on Kabul. But Mr Karzai said previous Taleban and al-Qaeda rulers had been thrown out and could not seriously challenge the Afghan government.

"All that they can do is to blow bombs and not really have the guts to confront us," he said. "So it is not a threat to the survival of Afghanistan, its government, its future objective."

Until one of their bombs hit you, Hamid.

(The article detailing the Taliban's plan to shift their focus to Kabul can be found here.)

In other Taliban news:

Women under siege in Afghanistan. I bet Afghan female MP Shukria Barakzai thinks the Taliban is a long term threat. For 3 months she has received a letter saying she may be targeted by a suicide bomber in the next six months.

I'd imagine the little boys of Tank who have been kidnapped by Taliban forces to become recruits are considering the Taliban to be a long term threat.

No doubt the civilians who had their throats slit by the Taliban for failing to fight the infidel consider the Taliban to be a long term threat.

Good morning, Islamabad! No doubt the proponents of the Fairness Doctrine will rejoice at this news: Taliban Radio Station back on the Air.