Indo-Afghan friendship no threat to regional stability

KABUL and India and India’s support to strengthen Afghan army did not threaten peace and security in the region.

“It is, in fact, the terrorist sanctuaries on the other side of the Durand Line and the use of terrorism as a political tool that endanger the peace and security of the region,” a ministry statement attributed to deputy foreign minister Ershad Ahmadi said, in response to his Pakistani counterpart recent remarks.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jillani recently said as a free country, Afghanistan was free to pursue its own policies. With respect to the request of Afghanistan from India for strengthening Afghan National Army (ANA), Jilani said Pakistan hoped that Afghanistan would keep in mind overall peace and security in the region.”

In reaction to his remarks, Ahmadi said if Pakistan intended honest and result-oriented cooperation to strengthen peace and stability in the region, the best way to achieve that was to dismantle the terrorist sanctuaries on its territory.”

Ahmadi added: “Under the current circumstances, we expect Pakistan to maintain a civilised relationship with its neighbours and interact with them in a transparent and peaceful manner.”

 “Pakistan must bear in mind that Afghans have made sacrifices for decades in defending their independence and repelling foreign interference and aggression. The Afghan people continue to stand prepared for further decades-long sacrifices for the cause of defending their country, protecting their sovereignty and ensuring regional security.”

pr/ma

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