Aziz: No objection to Kabul-Delhi defence links

ISLAMABAD (PAN.

Addressing the concluding session of a conference on “International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) withdrawal from Afghanistan: bilateral partnership for peace and cooperation” in Islamabad on Saturday, he said India and Iran should not back any particular group in the neighbouring country.

Bringing economic progress and prosperity to Afghanistan should be the focal point for the international community, he suggested, warning against a repeat of the mistakes of 1980s when the country was abandoned after the Soviet retreat.

No country should get involved in fighting a proxy war in Afghanistan and there should be no more interference in that country, he remarked.

Referring to the upcoming elections, he said non-interference by foreign powers in Afghanistan could put Kabul on the path to progress and development. “Real progress will only be seen if Afghans solve their problems without anyone’s interference.”

Afghanistan was going through security and political transitions and its people would decide their future through the landmark elections scheduled to be held in April 2014, he noted.

After the withdrawal of ISAF, he expressed optimism that the pledges made in Tokyo and Chicago to assist Afghanistan would be implemented.

He said Pakistan could not control any particular group in Afghanistan but Islamabad would continue to help enhance the nascent peace process.

rm/mud