KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai was sworn in for a second term today, vowing to combat corruption and reaching out to his political rivals under Western pressure to restore legitimacy. Karzai took the oath of office as the US-led war stretches into a ninth year, leaving record numbers of soldiers and civilians dead and with Taliban control extending deeper into the country after an election mired in fraud. Karzai promised action on a raft of problems that have caused consternation among his Western backers, weary of pouring military and financial aid into Afghanistan with little in return. He pledged action on corruption, drugs, security and unemployment, and said he would call a “loya jirga” — a meeting of political, tribal and community leaders from across the country’s complex social make-up — to bring peace.