New York: Dismissing threats from the Taliban in the countryside, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that his Government was committed to an "honest, accountable and austere regime".

"There's no Taliban in the countryside. Forget about that. The countryside is even more ready for good Government than the urban centres. For that we need a capable administration that will be able to deliver services, including justice, to the people," said Karzai, who was sworn-in as the first democratically elected President of Afghanistan last week.

Afghanistan would not have been able to hold elections if the Taliban had been around, he said in an interview to the 'Newsweek' adding that his Government was committed to an "honest, accountable and austere regime".

"The elections succeeded thanks to the force of the people. The Taliban can only succeed if they are accepted by or have a presence among the people. The Afghan people proved that this country is inherently democratic," he said.

"Those who are not part of al-Qaeda, who are not linked to terrorism, who have not committed crimes against our people and have a desire to come back and be a part of this country again, are welcome," he said.

Karzai also expressed confidence in being capable of reining in and disarming the warlords whom many Afghans, consider a greater threat to security than the Taliban.

"We will get it done. There has to be significant progress. Afghanistan has no option but to fight private military forces."