Terror can't be used as foreign policy instrument, says Abdullah Abdullah

New Delhi: Slamming Pakistan for its support to various terror groups, Afghanistan said on Friday that the time has come for taking a “fundamental” decision that no country should be allowed to use terror as an instrument of foreign policy. Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah said his country has a “serious challenge” in ties with Pakistan and that terror networks based in that country continue to indulge in activities to destabilise Afghanistan.

“The forces of darkness and evil cannot prevail forever. But at the same time they can create hindrances, they can create headaches. These are the realities of life,” Mr Abdullah was quoted by news agencies as saying, in an address at the Indian Council for World Affairs, a leading think tank.

He said a decision must be taken once and for all that terrorism will not be used as an instrument of pursuing foreign policy objectives in any part of the world.

That is the “fundamental decision” that has to be taken for the region and beyond, he said, asserting that the global community must show the resolve in the determination to deal with terror.

Talking about the peace process, he said the Afghan government has never closed its doors for talks and negotiations, and it was working to bring lasting peace to the country.

Speaking at the event, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar articulated various facets of India’s engagement with Afghanistan and said New Delhi remains steadfast in its commitment towards the country.

The Afghan CE also hailed India’s contribution towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction and said the assistance is making a huge difference to the lives of millions of people in his country.