Swansong: Karzai accuses Pakistan of harbouring Taliban
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaking during a ceremony in Kabul on February 4, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
In his last speech to parliament on Saturday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai accused Pakistan of harbouring the Taliban leadership and attacking leaders who want to join the peace process.
“We know that the Taliban leadership are being given safe havens in Pakistan. While those Taliban leaders who are willing to join talks are either being killed or detained,” President Karzai said in his speech aired live by the state media.
“Pakistan has realised that Afghanistan can’t be its puppet. We are not puppets of the United States, Britain or Russia. How can we be one of Pakistan’s?” he went on to question. The Afghan president expressed hope for ‘sincere cooperation’ in fighting terrorism in the region.
Toning his words down, Karzai said that Kabul looked forward to establishing good relations with all countries, including Pakistan.
“Our region has been threatened by terrorism more than ever. The people of Pakistan have also been suffering from terrorism which is created by some elements in that country,” he said, adding, that Pakistan and Afghanistan could achieve peace and security only if both of them respect each other’s sovereignty.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2014.