| | Karzai turns down Pak's offer to train Afghan National Army PTI
03/12/2010
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ISLAMABAD - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has virtually turned down Pakistan's offer to train the Afghan National Army while promising to keep Islamabad in the loop about his government's plans to engage the Taliban as part of reconciliation and reintegration efforts.
During two interactions with the media here yesterday, Mr Karzai said the Afghan government had accepted some of Pakistan's offers for military cooperation, including the supply of ammunition and equipment.
“As far as the training of Afghan soldiers and officers is concerned, my defence minister will study (this proposal) and we will come back on this,” Mr Karzai said during an interaction with editors and senior journalists.
The News daily reported that Mr Karzai's comments amounted to “not less than a 'polite no'”. Diplomatic sources told PTI that Mr Karzai had been “less than enthusiastic” about Pakistan's offers to train the Afghan army and police.
The issue has been raised with Mr Karzai by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during several recent meetings.
During his interaction with the editors, Mr Karzai pointed out that the training of the Afghan army by the Soviets in the past had lead to “trouble”.
He added: “So we are careful.”
However, Mr Karzai acknowledged that Pakistan had a key role in facilitating his government's efforts for reconciliation with the Taliban and pledged during his meetings with Pakistani leaders to keep Islamabad informed about the engagement with the militants.
Mr Karzai, who completed his two-day visit to Pakistan yesterday, discussed the reconciliation and reintegration efforts with Mr Gilani, Gen. Kayani and the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs. He acknowledged that Pakistan had a critical role in dialogue with the Taliban as the militants largely hail from Pashtun tribes that straddle the border between the two countries.
“Without a collaborative effort, it would be difficult to achieve peace and stability in the two countries,” Mr Karzai was quoted as having told Gilani by a source. At the same time, Mr Karzai expressed doubts about the motive behind the arrest of senior Afghan Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, by Pakistani authorities.
Afghanistan will have to see whether Pakistan's motive was to curb terrorism or to hinder the peace process, he said. “We are not sure as to what the motives are. I will have to discuss this and let you know,” he said during his interaction with the editors.
Mr Karzai, who raised the extradition of Baradar and other Afghan Taliban leaders during his meeting with Mr Gilani, made it clear that the militant commanders should be handed over by Pakistan as they are Afghan nationals and should be tried in Afghanistan.
Referring to the reconciliation process, Mr Karzai confirmed that his government was in touch with senior Afghan Taliban commanders and ready to talk with all of them, including Taliban chief Mullah Muhammad Omar.
“We have contacts (with the Taliban) as high as you wish to go. We are ready to talk to them... I am willing to talk to anyone as an Afghan to an Afghan. My responsibility as President is to wish for peace and stability,” he said.
Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari also agreed on Wednesday to revive the bilateral peace jirga process involving eminent tribal leaders from both countries to evolve a consensus on how Pakistan and Afghanistan could cooperate in talks with the Taliban.
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