Pakistan can help contain Taliban resurgence: Afghan envoy
Feb 25, 2007 - 9:54:23 AM
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The envoy, however, ruled out a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, saying that the 'violent and frightening memories of the Taliban reign' were still fresh among the Afghan people.
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By Manish Chand, IANS,
[RxPG] New Delhi, Feb 25 - Pakistan can help stem the Taliban resurgence as there are some 'groups' there which 'support and encourage' the fundamentalist militia, says Afghan envoy to India Syed Makhdoom Raheem.
'There is no doubt that there are groups in Pakistan who totally support and encourage the Taliban,' Raheem told IANS in an interview.
'We hope that the government of Pakistan will play a vital role in the prevention of Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan and in the fight against terrorism. Pakistan is itself under the threat of terrorism,' he added.
Amid reports of a fresh spring offensive by the Taliban, the Afghan envoy underlined that India has a stabilising role to play in violence-torn Afghanistan.
'And as far as India's role in Afghanistan is concerned, a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan will strengthen India's efforts in achieving peace, cooperation and progress in South Asia,' he said while stressing the ties between India and Afghanistan are 'getting strengthened every day.'
Affirming that three Indian workers killed in Afghanistan over the last two years would be remembered as 'peacemakers,' the envoy said without naming the Taliban and its alleged sponsor Pakistan that 'the enemies who never want peace, security and reconstruction to take its normal course in Afghanistan are behind gruesome killings.'
He added that the Afghan ministry of internal affairs and security officials were taking effective steps to provide safety to Indians and others involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
India has been involved in an array of crucial projects in Afghanistan, including the parliament building, the power transmission line and the strategic Zaranj-Delaram highway. India's total assistance to the reconstruction of Afghanistan has risen to $750 million.
Referring to India's long-standing demand that Pakistan open the land route to Afghanistan, the Afghan envoy said that the opening of this route will connect South Asia and Central Asia and will benefit the entire region.
'I hope Pakistan pays special attention in this regard. As you mentioned, the opening of the route will connect South Asia and Central Asia and in the long run Pakistan, like other countries of the region, would benefit from it,' he said.
He sounded upbeat about Afghanistan's maiden participation in the forthcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation - summit in New Delhi March 3-4. 'SAARC provides a good platform for maintaining human relations and trade and cultural relations between the countries of the region. Afghanistan, like other South Asian countries, can also benefit from it,' he said.
'What Afghanistan will bring to the table of SAARC in the future summits would include good grounds for investment and a better basis for transit,' he said.
The envoy, however, ruled out a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, saying that the 'violent and frightening memories of the Taliban reign' were still fresh among the Afghan people.
'Killings of innocents, burning of schools, suicide bombings and terrorist attacks, which are all against Islamic teachings, can create nothing else but hatred,' he said.
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