Kabul more important than London or even Washington: Khar

Says Afridi’s actions harmed polio campaign.

WASHINGTON:

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, in her remarks to the Council of Foreign Relations, has revealed that Kabul outranked London or Washington as the most important capital for Pakistan. She also said that the military in Pakistan plays a decision-making role which is similar to the Pentagon.

Addressing a gathering of policymakers and analysts at the think tank, moderated by former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Khar reiterated that Pakistan does not want any strategic depth in Afghanistan.

She added that the closure of joint operations between US forces and Afghan forces and the recent green-on-blue attacks were matters of grave concern.

“It is not ambition, but anxiety which drives our interest in Afghanistan,” said the foreign minister adding that she would be the first to admit that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have not been easy.

Citing examples of how they have built a relationship with the Afghan president, Khar said that Kabul was by far the most important capital for her country.

During the frank exchange of views, Khar revealed the background to Admiral Mike Mullen’s remarks against the ISI. She told the audience that “intelligence was shared with us that there was a truck full of explosives that was crossing the border into Kabul and we were asked to stop it”.

However, because Pakistan was unable to intercept the truck, Admiral Mike Mullen decided to refer to the Haqqani network as a “veritable arm” of the ISI.

Khar inquired from the audience that if it had been so easy to apprehend the explosives truck how did it manage to drive across 300 miles into Kabul without the US forces intervening?

When asked about Pakistan’s contacts with militant groups, the foreign minister said that there was a difference between contact and control. She said, “If we have any contacts, our message has always been to become a part of the political process” adding that it wasn’t only Pakistan that had contacts with militant groups, even the CIA maintained its contacts with various militant elements in Afghanistan.

During the discussions numerous attendees inquired about the imprisonment of Dr  Shakil Afridi and asked whether there was any possibility of securing his release. Khar said that the due legal process was being followed in the case and that she was personally “extremely concerned” about how Dr Afridi had harmed polio vaccinations by his actions in support of the CIA.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.