| |
No compromise on Afghan security: US
Kabul to build 12 airports in 5 years
New York—As news of another peace deal between the
Pakistan government and tribal leaders came in, the State Department
reiterated its skepticism, saying it would not like to compromise on
the security situation in Afghanistan.
“We want to make sure that nothing is done that would undermine the
security either of Pakistan or of Afghanistan,” State Department
spokesperson Tom Casey told reporters in Washington amid reports
regarding the fresh peace pact.
“Certainly, anything that would allow groups that are bent on taking
violent action against either of the governments is something that
we would oppose,” Casey said in response to a question.
Based on the bitter experience the US forces had because of the
agreement with tribal leaders in 2006 by President Pervez Musharraf,
the spokesman said, Washington had been opposing the new deals. He
added Washington would adopt a wait-and-watch policy.
According to Casey, the government of Pakistan says its intention is
to bring into the political process those outside of it and to put a
halt to terrorist activities. “We’ve seen similar kinds of
agreements reached in the past that have not been successful.”
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the agreement should not
compromise his country’s interests, failing which Kabul would be
“extremely angry”.
Karzai said if the peace deal by Pakistan with the Taliban in the
North West Frontier Province puts Afghanistan at risk, he would
raise the issue with the leadership in Islamabad.
“That should not happen. That is certainly something we are
concerned about and we hope our brothers in Pakistan will not allow
that,” he said on Karan Thapar’s ‘Devil’s Advocate’ programme on
CNN-IBN when asked whether he was apprehensive that the peace deal
between Pakistan government and Taliban could come at the cost of
Afghanistan.
“If a thing like that happens, of course we will take it up (with
Pakistan). I definitely hope that will not be the case. That will
not happen. We must be very careful,” he added.
“We cannot under no circumstances allow elements that are inimical
to this country or that to operate from either country,” Karzai
said.
The Pakistan government and local Taliban in the NWFP signed a
15-point agreement on May 21 whereby the militants will stop suicide
attacks and the army will gradually be withdrawn from the restive
Swat valley.
Meanwhile, Transport and Aviation Minister Hamidullah Qaderi said
that a dozen new airports would be built during the next five years
in various provinces of the country.
At his maiden news conference since he was appointed as transport
and aviation minister two months back, Qaderi said that the airports
would be built with financial assistance from the World Bank and the
Asian Development Bank.
The airports will be constructed in Maidan Wardak, Nimroz, Ghor,
Farah, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Khost and other provinces,
explained Qaderi.—NNI
|
