'Indo-Pak rivalry can be very costly for Afghanistan'
Lalit K Jha/PTI / Washington Mar 15, 2010, 13:16 IST
Seeking a constructive role for both India and Pakistan in Afghanistan, a top Afghan diplomat today said the rivalry between them can cost very dearly to the stability of his war-torn nation and harm its efforts to rebuild itself.
"Rivalry between Pakistan and India, when it comes to Afghanistan can be costly for the stability of Afghanistan," Afghan Ambassador to UN Zahir Tanin told PTI.
He said Afghanistan needs both India and Pakistan to continue to cooperate with his country.
As Afghanistan enters the phase of transition strategy, post-London conference, Tanin said there is a responsibility for the region also that instead of starting to see the things as end game; they should see it into how this transition would be transition from war to peace.
"The idea of taking out (from Afghanistan) India or taking out Pakistan is not useful, not possible and has very little chance of success. From our point of view, it is important for political stability and economic prosperity of Afghanistan that India and Pakistan have a constructive role in Afghanistan," he said.
"But if we go back towards the mentality of the 1990s, I am not sure, such a scenario would succeed," Tanin said, adding Afghanistan would like to continue its relationship with both countries as its neighbours as with each of them Afghanistan has historic cultural and political relationship.
Content Guide
