Letter to PTI chief: Karzai expresses shared concern of rising militancy
Says he hopes to receive positive response from Imran Khan; condemns attack on Malala.
ISLAMABAD:
In a letter written to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said while he shared his concerns about drone attacks and rising extremism, the “responsibility to effectively combat terrorism falls on us.”
“I understand your (Imran) grave concerns about drone attacks. Likewise, I share your concern about the rise of extremism in our region, which we are witnessing. I have taken up these issues with Western leaders. However, I believe that the primary responsibility to effectively combat extremism and terrorism falls on us,” stated the letter, a copy of which was available with The Express Tribune.
“I hope that as the leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf, you (Imran) will give a positive response to this invitation for coordinated and collaborative action between our two countries against the evils of extremism and terrorism that is threatening our present and future well-being,” Karzai said.
The letter, sent on October 11, comes on the heels of PTI chief Imran Khan’s recent controversial statements terming the ongoing war in Afghanistan ‘jihad’.
After paying a visit to inquire about the health of targeted peace activist Malala Yousafzai in Peshawar on October 10, Imran termed the ongoing war in Afghanistan a ‘jihad’. He, however, parried a question on whether the war in Pakistan’s tribal belt could be labeled as terrorism.
Farhad Azimi, the deputy secretary of the Afghan parliament, termed Imran’s statements a ‘clear interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.’
“Imran should make a distinction between ‘jihad’ and war against militancy in Afghanistan,” said an Afghan diplomat in Islamabad, while choosing to remain anonymous. Being a politician, Imran should take a stand against militants by supporting Afghans, who are facing this menace for decades, he added.
The PTI chairman, however, has yet to respond to Karzai’s letter.
“Imran Khan, who is currently visiting Turkey on the Turkish prime minister’s invitation, will respond to the letter on his return,” PTI’s Central Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood said on Saturday.
Furthermore, Karzai in his letter expressed concern over the terrorist attack on Malala, saying that the dastardly attack on her and other young people in Afghanistan and Pakistan was an attempt to ‘doom our future generations to darkness and ignorance’.
“We have all been outraged by the inhuman and heinous attempt on the life of Malala and her fellow students. Whilst we pray for their health and speedy recovery, we must ask why we have been unable to counter the terrorism that is attacking our religion, our people and the promise of a better future for our children,” stated the letter.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2012.
In a letter written to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said while he shared his concerns about drone attacks and rising extremism, the “responsibility to effectively combat terrorism falls on us.”
“I understand your (Imran) grave concerns about drone attacks. Likewise, I share your concern about the rise of extremism in our region, which we are witnessing. I have taken up these issues with Western leaders. However, I believe that the primary responsibility to effectively combat extremism and terrorism falls on us,” stated the letter, a copy of which was available with The Express Tribune.
“I hope that as the leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf, you (Imran) will give a positive response to this invitation for coordinated and collaborative action between our two countries against the evils of extremism and terrorism that is threatening our present and future well-being,” Karzai said.
The letter, sent on October 11, comes on the heels of PTI chief Imran Khan’s recent controversial statements terming the ongoing war in Afghanistan ‘jihad’.
After paying a visit to inquire about the health of targeted peace activist Malala Yousafzai in Peshawar on October 10, Imran termed the ongoing war in Afghanistan a ‘jihad’. He, however, parried a question on whether the war in Pakistan’s tribal belt could be labeled as terrorism.
Farhad Azimi, the deputy secretary of the Afghan parliament, termed Imran’s statements a ‘clear interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.’
“Imran should make a distinction between ‘jihad’ and war against militancy in Afghanistan,” said an Afghan diplomat in Islamabad, while choosing to remain anonymous. Being a politician, Imran should take a stand against militants by supporting Afghans, who are facing this menace for decades, he added.
The PTI chairman, however, has yet to respond to Karzai’s letter.
“Imran Khan, who is currently visiting Turkey on the Turkish prime minister’s invitation, will respond to the letter on his return,” PTI’s Central Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood said on Saturday.
Furthermore, Karzai in his letter expressed concern over the terrorist attack on Malala, saying that the dastardly attack on her and other young people in Afghanistan and Pakistan was an attempt to ‘doom our future generations to darkness and ignorance’.
“We have all been outraged by the inhuman and heinous attempt on the life of Malala and her fellow students. Whilst we pray for their health and speedy recovery, we must ask why we have been unable to counter the terrorism that is attacking our religion, our people and the promise of a better future for our children,” stated the letter.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2012.