Kandahar is seen as the key battleground to reverse nearly nine years of escalating conflict in Afghanistan, which is taking an increasing toll on foreign forces.

Speaking on a high-security visit to Kandahar city with the head of coalition forces General Stanley McChrystal and top NATO official Mark Sedwill, Karzai said: "These days the foreigners speak of an operation in Kandahar.

"Are you worried?" he asked hundreds of local tribal elders, who shouted back: "Yes, we are."

"Well, if you are worried, then there won't be an operation unless you are happy about it," Karzai responded, adding that all local leaders would be "consulted first and there will be an operation to bring security".

Military planners say operations against the Taliban in the restive province have already begun and will escalate in the coming months, as thousands more troops are deployed under escalated counter-insurgency tactics.

The offensive promises to be a major test of the US-led efforts to bring a swift end to the conflict.

Major General William Mayville, deputy chief of staff at the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), agreed with Karzai's comments.

"You've got to have the community really wanting in, otherwise things are stalled," he told reporters.

"(Karzai's) convinced, he's onboard. We would not have had this shura (tribal council) if he wasn't convinced this is the right stuff."

General Sher Mohammad Zazai, in charge of the Afghan National Army in southern Afghanistan, also supported the need for consultation.

US defence officials have seen a recent offensive in Marjah in neighbouring Helmand province as a dress rehearsal for a more decisive clash in Kandahar likely to begin in June.

The number of US and NATO troops is set to rise from 126,000 to 150,000 by August, by which time military planners intend to have Kandahar under Afghan government control.

"We would want the foreign force to launch an operation in Kandahar but not like before. If they are launching an operation, they must root out the Taliban," said Haji Habibullah, a white-bearded elder from Arghandab district.

"Once the troops leave, the Taliban come back and start intimidating ordinary people. They kill people, they slaughter people, accusing them of helping foreigners," he told AFP.

Karzai's visit to Kandahar came after international condemnation of his claims that foreign powers were responsible for fraud and intimidation in last year's disputed presidential elections.

The United States has sought to draw a line under the comments, which have frayed already strained ties between Washington and Kabul over the speedy implementation of good governance, anti-corruption and other measures.

On Sunday, Karzai said Afghans alone should work to stamp out the corruption and criminality the elders complained about.

Life would only improve when people had faith in a government perceived to be running its own affairs, he added.

The Wall Street Journal, though, said Karzai again criticised foreign powers during a meeting on Saturday with Afghan lawmakers, quoting unnamed participants.

Karzai's spokesman told the daily the president did not accuse the West of trying to run Afghanistan or warn that the Taliban insurgency could become a legitimate resistance movement if foreign meddling continued.

Instead the meeting centred on his proposed reforms of electoral law, he added.

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