Making common cause with India against terror emanating from Pakistan, Afghanistan has backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent comments slamming those who “glorify” terrorism, adding that some in the region are using terrorists as “strategic tools”.
In an exclusive interaction with this newspaper, Afghan Ambassador in New Delhi Shaida Mohammad Abdali also made it clear that Taliban terrorists have found sanctuary in Pakistan and said the Pakistan Government should drive them out if they do not agree to participate in the peace process.
Without naming any country but leaving no one in doubt as to whom he was referring to, the Afghan envoy said, “We should call terrorists as terrorists. ... We in this region, some, look at terrorists as strategic tools. That is the problem. The crux of the matter is the use of terrorism under various names but in reality it is the State that is engineering against other neighbours ... We hope terrorism is not glorified as Prime Minister Modi mentioned in his Independence Day speech. He said that some terrorists are glorified. I fully agree.” Mr. Abdali also said people who perpetuate terrorism will eventually pay a much bigger price than the current victims since terrorists will inevitably turn back to attack their creators.
Amply making it clear what the source of the terror was, Mr. Abdali said, “It is no more the stage where we examine and analyse how this terrorism is coming into Afghanistan. ... Certainly the presence of the Taliban in Pakistan is something that is undeniably known and something that cannot be disputed. ... Terrorism (is) coming from across the border (into Afghanistan)”. The Afghan envoy said his Government was engaging with Pakistan to bring those Taliban leaders present there to the negotiating table. “There is a situation where we suffer and they (Pakistan) suffer too. This (terrorism is a double-edged sword), this terrorism or insurgency exported to Afghanistan ... You saw the incident in Quetta (Capital of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province),” he added.
Mr. Abdali said, “You go through the Pakistani Government’s statements. They (Pakistan) say they are there to help with the Taliban for peace talks. This itself means that they (Taliban) are there. We have two conditions—that those Taliban who live there (in Pakistan), come across, fight in Afghanistan and go back, that they are encouraged towards peace. If they don’t listen, we are expecting that they are thrown out (of Pakistan). ... That because of the pain that is inflicted not only on us but the pain inflicted on their (Pakistan’s) people, that we both (Afghanistan and Pakistan) will join hands to free ourselves from a common enemy and that is terrorism. The day the selectivity between terrorist groups, the “good and bad” Taliban ... we hope would come to an end and a sincere and genuine alliance against terrorism (is made), definitely will achieve that goal jointly.”
The Afghan envoy added, “We hope that the call by Afghanistan and India for peace will be listened to (and) that we don’t see the use of terrorism as an instrument against other neighbours by any state or non-state (actors). ... The ground realities are that terrorism is being supported, sanctuaries exist and they are used against other neighbours ... . We hope countries in the region particularly, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan cooperate genuinely and not talk that which is not matched by action. There is need for action to support what we say.”
