SUHASINI HAIDAR
Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai. Photo: R.V. Moorthy
‘Demands were made at every leadership level, it was raised throughout my tenure.’
For the first time, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said what he has hinted at for years: that Pakistan’s leadership had demanded in bilateral meetings that India reduce its presence and aid projects in Afghanistan.
In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Karzai said the demands were made “at every leadership level, it was raised regularly and it was raised throughout my tenure.” While Mr. Karzai refused to name the leaders who made the specific requests to him when he was President, he said: “The crux of the matter is yes, the demand came from Pakistan to tell India to reduce its presence, and we said no to them.”
India has granted aid worth two billion dollars and provides civil and military training to Afghanistan, while Indian companies are involved in several reconstruction projects.
Mr. Karzai is in Delhi for the first time since he demitted office and is staying at Rashtrapati Bhawan as the guest of President Pranab Mukherjee where he spoke to The Hindu. He also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of developments in Afghanistan since the formation of the national unity government under President Ashraf Ghani.
No comments:
Post a Comment