Trust deficit with Pak due to its policy of violence: Afghan Ambassador to UN
New York: There is a "trust deficit" between Pakistan and its neighbours over the country's "policy of using violence in pursuit of political objectives", Afghanistan's top envoy here has said as he sought an end to the "unfortunate" Indo-Pak tension.
Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal, who is the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations Security Council, said: "There is a trust deficit which has been developing for a long period of time between Pakistan and its neighbours.
"I guess we need to ask ourselves what motivates certain circles within Pakistan who could tolerate the policy of violence in pursuit of political objectives and we need to find an answer for that. The answer of that has a lot to do with the people of Pakistan, with our own region, naturally there is tension in the region."
He added that within Pakistan, there is also tension between the military forces and the civilian government.
"The unfortunate tension which has been going for a long period of time between Pakistan and India ultimately must come to an end," he said.
"And we must find a solution for it. And those circles who do not see their see their interest in a peaceful settlement, they are the ones to talk to. And ultimately, they have to be convinced that the peace of Pak-India and peace of Afghanistan and the peace of the region is the peace of the people of Pakistan," he added.
Asked about India contemplating giving asylum to Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, Abdali said, it is "up to India to give asylum to an outsider".
"I fully sympathise with the people of Balochistan, who are suffereing. There is a war going on...We should speak for all human beings. Its a human rights issue.
We hope that the people of Balochistan will have a peaceful life and a free life," he said.
Asked about four countries -- India, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh -- pulling out of the SAARC Summit in Islamabad, he said the environment is "not conducive" to convening the conference when terrorism was "at its peak".
"Being selective against terrorism, and that continues to exist, can make those who are affected to decide whether we should continue our business as usual or whether we should think and rethink on our approach to regional affairs or the
mechanism that we have, especially SAARC," Abdali said.
"Afghanistan, because of the evolving security situation that is very serious, will not be able to attend," he said.
When asked about Pakistan's denial of surgical strikes and also its refusal to acknowledge the evidence on Pakistan-based groups' involvement in terror attacks on Indian defence installations like in Uri and Pathankot, Abdali said, the
sharing of evidence was a bilateral issue between the two countries. He, however, acknowledged there was "no doubt" that "the double standard approach" vis-a-vis terrorism continues.
"We hope that the approach of denial will end and we come out (on) how we deal with terrorism, whether we are sincere in the war against terrorism. Unfortunately, that sincerity is not there. The fact of denial has been there for a long time.
We hope we come clean and there is no doubt that the deception in terms of war against terrorism will not be accepted forever," he said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
"Time has come we come clean and we make sure, based on evidence, that we act in collaboration with South Asian and all other international partners with sincerity," he said.
Noting that with regard to terrorism "patience is wearing thin nowadays", the Afghan envoy said it is high time that India and Afghanistan "reviewed" their relations with countries.
"As peaceful nation, we are trying our best to have good neighbourly relations but let me be frank here that goodwill has not been reciprocated so far," Abdali said, in another obvious reference to Pakistan.
Seeking a change of approach towards terrorism, Abdali said it is important to take along the international community because terrorism is a global phenomenon and not a regional issue. He said there was a need to raise this issue at global fora, including the UN.
"Business as usual (approach) is going to harm all of us," Abdali said.
He stated that Afghanistan has suffered because of terrorist groups from "across the border" and feels the pain in a similar way as India.
"We understand how difficult it is to see continued violence inflicted on the people in a nation. Afghanistan, prior to 9/11 warned the world that terrorism...will not be only affecting Afghanistan forever, that this will have spillover effects on the region and beyond," he said.
"We have to be together to go against any element...not just one country, but if there is safe sanctuary (for terrorists) in any other country, we have to go against them," the envoy said.
