Ex-president chides Pakistan Army, intelligence service

KABUL.

Speaking at an event marking International Youth Day in Kabul, Karzai said the Afghan people considered the Pakistani people their brothers, sisters and friends. There were no differences among the two peoples, he added.

“The Pakistani nation has been brotherly and friendly (toward us). When we were faced with problems during the Soviet invasion, the people of Pakistan shared their homes with us and welcomed us with open arms. We lived an honorable life there,” he acknowledged.

He welcomed the unity government’s serious stance, saying their complaint was against the Pakistan Army and intelligence agency. He warned the Pakistan government, army and ISI would never reach their goals by resorting to destruction and intimidation.

Following recent bombings in Kabul that took the lives of more than 50 people and wounded 500 others, President Ashraf Ghani took a swipe at Pakistan, saying war was being declared from Pakistan’s soil on Afghanistan.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah also slammed Pakistan’s lack of cooperation with regard to the Afghan peace process, saying Kabul had conclusively proved its desire for better relation with Islamabad based on mutual respect and non-interference.

Karzai said American and Western politicians had repeatedly said that Pakistan’s intelligence service was a major supporter of terrorism. He asked them to choke terrorism funding if they really meant what they said.

“We want friendship with America and Pakistan. But as a nation it is our right to have a clear fate, to know which direction we are headed in and why we are being scapegoated,” Karzai remarked.

During his presidency, Karzai visited Pakistan more than 20 times, but could not achieve tangible results in terms of the peace process.

“The ill-wishers of Afghanistan should know that we did not fall despite thousands of wounds. For 30 years now we have been in war, but we are still a proud nation. We bury our martyrs and rebuild our country,” he continued.

He urged the youth to focus more on education in this age of revolution in information technology. He voiced concerns about youth queuing up to get passports and leave the country, saying running away was no solution, but being in this country, giving sacrifices and safeguarding the nation was the solution.

He also urged businessmen and investors to financially cooperate with victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Shah Shaheed and other areas. The spirit of patriotism must come into play at critical times, he concluded.

hg/mud