Afghan imbroglio: Roadmap for a post-US era

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday inaugurated their joint peace commission tasked to look at the prospects of dialogue with the Taliban, which has been engaged in a decade-long insurgency against US-led allies in Afghanistan.

In another effort to improve bilateral ties, which are often shrouded in mistrust and mutual recrimination, the much-delayed transit trade agreement between the two countries – which was signed last year – is due to come into effect on Sunday (today).


President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai terming Pakistan a conjoined twin and brother of Afghanistan said Saturday that the Indian presence in Afghanistan cannot be used against the brotherly country. “Indian presence in Afghanistan is in no way and cannot be in any manner used against Pakistan”, President Karzai said in an interview with PTV aired on Saturday night. “Pakistan is a conjoined twin and brother (of Afghanistan),” President Karzai stressed.
He said, however, India being an old friend of Afghanistan was helping it tremendously and providing financial assistance and “Pakistan should feel happy that Afghanistan is being helped by another neighbour.”


Karzai lauded the role of Pakistani leadership and the people for their enhanced cooperation with Afghanistan to achieve peace and stability in the country and region.


To a question, President Karzai agreed that contrary to the government of former President Pervez Musharraf, the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have improved a lot after the current PPP-led government came into power.

President Karzai said that he was the only foreign dignitary, who was invited to the oath-taking of President Asif Ali Zardari in 2008 saying it was ‘an unusual’ gesture.


Indian presence not against Pakistan: Karzai


Calling Islamabad "a conjoined twin", Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that the Indian presence in his country is not aimed at "brother" Pakistan. “Indian presence in Afghanistan is in no way and cannot be in any manner used against Pakistan,” Karzai told Pakistan Television.

He, however, said that India was an old friend of Afghanistan was helping it tremendously and providing financial assistance.

“Pakistan should feel happy that Afghanistan is being helped by another neighbour,” he added.

Pakistan has repeatedly complained that the Indian role in Afghanistan's reconstruction is actually aimed at propping up a pro-New Delhi regime in Kabul.

Karzai lauded the role of the Pakistani leadership and people for their cooperation with Afghanistan.

He said the US had been told that "there is no way Afghanistan cannot have relationship with" Iran as the two countries share a 900-km border.