Karzai restates intent to engage Taliban
ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday castigated Pakistan for the presence of sanctuaries and training camps of militants within its territorial limits. At the same time, he reiterated his government’s resolve to talk with Taliban.
“There are sanctuaries and training camps in our countries. Militants are not coming from Ivory Coast, they are coming from our lands,” he said at the press conference with President Asif Zardari.
Mr Karzai has been accusing Pakistan of doing nothing against militants’ sanctuaries and training camps for several years.
At the press conference, however, the two presidents pledged to work together to eliminate terrorist hideouts.
In reply to a question about his offer of talks to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mr Karzai said: “We have made talks offer to those Taliban who are not part of Al Qaeda and are ready to obey the Afghan constitution.”
“There are sanctuaries and training camps in our countries. Militants are not coming from Ivory Coast, they are coming from our lands,” he said at the press conference with President Asif Zardari.
Mr Karzai has been accusing Pakistan of doing nothing against militants’ sanctuaries and training camps for several years.
At the press conference, however, the two presidents pledged to work together to eliminate terrorist hideouts.
In reply to a question about his offer of talks to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mr Karzai said: “We have made talks offer to those Taliban who are not part of Al Qaeda and are ready to obey the Afghan constitution.”