Washington: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged US President George W Bush to do more to make the life of Afghan people "better, more stable and more peaceful" and also asked to intensify the war on terrorism and free the world from the menace.

"I am here to thank you and the American people for the tremendous help in the past year to rebuild Afghanistan, in all aspects of life, including the three million children who now go to school," Karzai said at a joint appearance with President Bush at the White House on February 27.

"You have helped us with the roads, with the building of the National Army of Afghanistan," said Karzai. He asked Bush "to do more" for the war-ravaged country.

"I am also here to tell you that the war against terrorism is going on. We have defeated them, but some elements are still there. And we should go on strong and tough to get them all and free the world from that menace," he said.

Bush praised Karzai as a "courageous leader, who has got a clear vision about the future of the country he loves" and said he was deeply impressed by some of the statistics that Karzai talked about – over two million refugees who have returned to Afghanistan since he was last in Washington and three million children who are now going to school in Afghanistan.

Right after and during the period of Taleban rule, said Bush, the number of children in school was negligible. "That is tremendous progress".

Bush added that he continues to look forward to working with Karzai to bring "not only peace to that part of the world but a hopeful future for the citizens".

PTI