Afghanistan will not compromise on foreign policy: Karzai

Afghanistan will not compromise on the independence of its foreign policy, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday.

Karzai noted that the vision of peace could not be realized as long as terrorism was used as a policy instrument.

Speaking at a lecture here, Karzai said he had travelled to Pakistan 20 times as president.

"I went with tremendous hope that we will settle issues and have closer relations," he said adding that he specially worked hard when Pakistan also began to suffer from terrorism.

He said that he told the Pakistani leadership that "what was affecting us was coming from you and affecting you".

He said his efforts did not bear fruit, but they will be pursued by the new government in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has told all its friends that "there will be no compromise on independence of foreign policy and sovereignty".

He said that the vision of peace in South Asia has obstacles. It will remain a vision as long as terrorism is used as an instrument of policy.

The lecture was presided over by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and organised by the Delhi Policy Group.