Unrelenting criticism: After stepping down, Karzai fires first salvo

Former Afghan president says Islamabad wants recognition of Durand Line by Kabul


Our Correspondent November 20, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who has been unrelenting in his criticism of Pakistan during his long rule, said on Wednesday that he had told Pakistani leaders that Pakistan could have ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan only through friendship.

In his first media interaction after he stepped down in September, Karzai once again hit out at Islamabad for “its quest for recognition of the Durand Line and control over Indian part of the Afghan foreign policy”. He added that his 20 visits to Pakistan could not help improve relations between the two countries.

Karzai claimed that Pakistani leaders had demanded on a number of occasions that Kabul recognised the Durand Line, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.  “I had told Pakistan that I cannot recognise the Durand Line. The Afghan nation also does not recognise it,” Karzai told the US-funded Radio Azadi in Kabul.

“No Afghan government has the power to recognise the Durand Line. No government in the past recognised it as a border. It is not only the right of the people on the Afghan side of the border but nationalities on the other side of the Durand Line also have equal share/rights,” Karzai said.

Karzai claimed that it was and is his strong desire to have good relations with Pakistan so people of the two countries live in peace.

The former Afghan leader alleged that the suicide bombers had been coming to Afghanistan from Pakistan during his tenure.

“In a one-to-one meeting with Pervez Musharraf probably in 2008 we discussed as to why and who were carrying out suicide attacks in Pakistan.

As Pakistan had been burning in the flames, I told him to explore ways so both countries could live in peace.”

Karzai also recalled that Pakistan had sent a delegation, carrying a message from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, four months ago that sought help in the North Waziristan military operation. “I wrote to Nawaz Sharif and set nine conditions and assured him of help against terrorism.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2014.

COMMENTS (1)

goldconsumer | 9 years ago | Reply

No Afghan government has the power to recognise the Durand Line. No government in the past recognised it as a border. It is not only the right of the people on the Afghan side of the border but nationalities on the other side of the Durand Line also have equal share/rights,” Karzai said.

Hahaha Last we checked, the party that played the Durand card was washed away in the Tusanami by the same "nationalist" you refer Mr. US appointed, ill-informed former President! May be you should ring a bell to Mrs. Asfandyar wali for clarification..

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