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Karzai demands cancellation of ISI, Afghan spy agency intelligence accord

Statement says former Afghan president has expressed concern at the signing of the cooperation between spy agencies

Tahir Khan May 20, 2015

Hamid Karzai. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Staying true to his anti-Pakistan stance, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai demanded Afghanistan to immediately cancel the agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s spy agencies.

"Hamid Karzai has urged the country's leadership to immediately declare the agreement null and void," a statement from the office of the former president said.

The statement added, "Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai has expressed serious concerns at the signing of the cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan spy agencies.”

Read: Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to share intelligence

Karzai said Afghanistan should desist signing agreements that are against Afghanistan's national interests. Karzai's Pashto-language statement was also posted on his official Facebook page.

On Monday, the two countries said they have agreed to boost anti-terror cooperation for sharing intelligence and training Afghan officials.

A spokesperson for the Afghan intelligence service National Directorate of Security (NDS) Abdul Haseeb Siddiqui confirmed the development.

Siddiqui said the MoU had identified the “enemy”, fundamental threats and a mechanism to share intelligence techniques.

Read: Pak-Afghan ties: FWO to expand Torkham-Jalalabad Road

“The NDS will look into Pakistan’s sincere cooperation on the basis of the MoU,” Siddiqui said, adding that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and NDS had previously signed MoUs in 2006 and 2009 as well, but those could not prove effective due to complications in the agreements.

Karzai, who stepped down in September last year after serving as the longest president, has no official position in the national unity government. However, reports suggest he is regularly giving advice to the leadership.

The former president, who has spent nearly 25 years in Pakistan as a refugee, had also opposed President Ghani's decision to send army cadets for training to Pakistan.

Karzai had refused to send army officers to Pakistan and had signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with India in 2011 that also include an Indian commitment to increase its training of Afghan security forces. Indian and Afghan media say nearly 350 Afghan army officers are currently getting training in India under the agreement.

COMMENTS (30)

Frederick Müller | 9 years ago | Reply As a European taxpayer, I demand Karzai return all the money he has stolen from us and stashed in Dubai.

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @Afghan Maihan: No one expects overnight change given a long history of uncertainty in the region. However, despite pessimists like you who cherish on hopelessness, spread negative ideas, living with the hope India is going to transform you, the current state of lack of trust have to shift. You do not seem to have any insight into why Pakistan and Afghanistan are important for each other and what they can achieve together. Without going further on your rather unsavoury comments it immediately comes to mind how ungrateful guys like you are. Regardless how the circumstances have evolved in the region one likes to think why millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan since times of USSR invasion half a century ago. I thought Afghans are proud people who never forget favours done by others but events in the region have made me think Afghans are nothing other than a herd driven by Ideas originating in India. I am still hopeful that the two countries will reassess their long standing mistrust and Afghanistan will stop thinking that Pakistan a bad luck and holding them back. Remember no one is going to beg from you to be friends with us, rather we need each other for peace in the region. Ashraf Ghani is an honourable man who knows how to steer his country and aims to have long term friendship with Pakistan. It is good news for intelligence agencies of both countries to share relevant information with each other despite spoilers like you who are locked into gloomy ideas of your own making. We do not mind your relationship with India but expect you to avoid playing fowl such as allowing a proxy war from your territory. Indians have very few other means to destabilising us or directly attack us as they know the consequences. Have a good day.

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Afghan Maihan | 9 years ago | Reply Comments from Pakistanis prove how little they understand the nature of the intelligence agencies of the two states and the mutual distrust between them. Plausible deniability shall continue despite the platitudes about cooperation and the sharing of intelligence, so they can both continue milking the US for the so called war on terror. Pakistanis take solace in the false hope and premise that Indian influence in Afghanistan will somehow diminish and peace will prevail. India will continue to destabilize Pakistan, they don't need Afghanistan to infiltrate Pakistan and carry out covert operations. They walk amongst you throughout Pakistan and blend in because you guys look alike.

Afghan Maihan | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistanis delude themselves into thinking that Afghans have amnesia and buried the hatchet. Ashraf Ghani is only biding for time, things will go back to normal in no time. The more things change the more they stay the same. This bonhomie between the two states will evaporate sooner than later because it lacks sincerity. Karzai sees it for what it is, an utterly desperate attempt by some Afghans to appease Pakistan. NDS operates independently like their counterparts and it will be business as usual notwithstanding any treaties or agreements and you can bet your bottom Rupee on that.

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply One of the eventual causes of his downfall included his malicious collaboration with RAW who became involved in subversive activities inside Pakistani Baluchistan. He kept muttering his mantra of Afghan and Pakistan being twin brothers to appease us and buy time to find a house in India along with transferring enough of Afghan money to secure his family's future.

Afzal | 9 years ago | Reply @Rana: Karzai obviously personally favors India. The real question is: who cares? Afghans did not re-elect him. The fact that Karzai loves India so much isn't a good thing for India, because the people of Afghanistan hate Karzai so much.

Afzal | 9 years ago | Reply Who cares what he thinks? His stances have been rejected by Afghans, and he was widely considered to be extremely corrupt. And that's to say nothing of all the evidence that pointed to him stealing the election from Abdullah Abdullah.

someone | 9 years ago | Reply Whatever one think of Karzai, the man knows a thing or two about how Pakistani works. They say something and do absolutely opposite. I think Ghani would be wise to heed ear to Karzai for his own good.

Azam Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @INDIAN: Yeh, the Afghan Spy Agency should sign a pact with the Terrorist RAW. The money transfers to Karzai will be easier. Karzai is a Ghaddar of Pakistan. He lived in Quetta for quite some time before he was picked by USA for being appointed the president of Afghanistan.

Rana | 9 years ago | Reply He has lived his life in Pakistan and India both. He knows which path is best to take his Country forward. This shows his lineancy towards India. He did his higher education from Shimla. There has been till date not even a single riot and sectarian violence. Its a hindu majority state, 99%. This has left a huge impact on the way he thinks.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply I think after retirement from mayorship of Kabul he is drawing his pension from Indian treasury.

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan should not regret for hosting this ungrateful and unworthy character for 25 years on its soil when in exile. With the exception of India no one likes him, Americans had got fed up with his awkward mind set and habitual complaints. He is obviously very conscious of his isolation both in and out of Afghanistan and realises his only function now is to make ungainly anti-Pak statements to appease India to protect his family's future.

Azam Khan | 9 years ago | Reply How much has Karzai recieved from India for giving such statements.

kishan | 9 years ago | Reply @INDIAN Pakistan and Afghanistan talking, step aside you puppet.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Like anybody cares what this retired clown says.

samir | 9 years ago | Reply This guy has so much blood in his hands. He is a constant supporter of chaos and enmity in the region; a sadist who would let terror rule for his economic gains. No wonder he is the blue eyed boy of India.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply He is a joker but a failed one.

Not Surprised | 9 years ago | Reply He is really acting like an Indian agent.

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Karzai go to Delhi and live your life.....Afghanistan and Pakistan both know if they have to prosper they both need strong relationships

Pakistan Needs a Batman | 9 years ago | Reply Classic example of somebody making holes in the same plate where they once ate. Shame on you Karzai.

Human | 9 years ago | Reply I'm now convinced that India does not like the agreement

Amir | 9 years ago | Reply Karzai the stool pigeon had his chance and should shut up now. let the peace process and fight against terrorism move forward.

Observer | 9 years ago | Reply SO you are alive

saeed | 9 years ago | Reply is he still relevant?

ziddi gujjar | 9 years ago | Reply This is called "Great Namak Haraam"

ilyas | 9 years ago | Reply He facilitated cooperation between defunct Baloch organizations and RAW, everyone knows what happened next in Balochistan. His credentials are full of anti-Pakistan activity. He is public enemy number of Pakistan in Afghanistan. His demands are fully in line with his past deeds and is of no surprise.

S Chaudhury | 9 years ago | Reply He is an enemy of Pakistan & agent if India

AfghPak | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Karzai, Sir! You are not the head-of-the-state of Afghanistan, anymore. Enjoy your peaceful days in India with those luxuries that you can afford now from the looted money from poor Afghan foreign assistance. You probably have no chance again in future after the terrible years you gave to Afghan,

INDIAN | 9 years ago | Reply Karzai is true patriot and he doesn't want afghan spy agency to make deal with terrorist ISI

A-No.1 | 9 years ago | Reply The puppet has been ordered by his masters in Delhi to spew some venom.

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