'Pakistan should realise problems it causes in Afghanistan will hit them'

Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission chairperson Sima Samar on Friday said Pakistan must know that the problem caused by it in Afghanistan will also reach them.

"I believe that our neighbour (Pakistan) should realise that problems that it is causing in Afghanistan is not going to stay within our boundaries. It would reach them," Samar, who was here to participate in an international conference on child and youth, told IANS.

"As soon as they realise this and take action against enemies of human rights, the world will have a positive change," she said.

"When you (Pakistan) are training bad people against a country, you will be trapped," she added.

Hopeful of a peaceful region and reminiscing the Afghanistan "that once was", she said that only with regional cooperation and peace, could social and economic stability reach Afghanistan within next 20 years.

"If everything goes well, including the social, economical and political situation in the region, we may achieve prosperous Afghanistan sooner than 20 years," she said.

Holding poverty, inequality and disorientation against the people as a major cause of terrorism, Samar said terrorists are also people like us, subjected to circumstances.

"Those who are killing themselves and involve in terrorist activities are also people like us. But what put them in that situation has reasons and conditions. I think poverty, inequality and lack of job opportunities for youth is major reason of terrorism. Where would they go? Either they are used by group of people to brainwash and make them supporter of the government or by the extremists," she said.

Advocating an over overall policy revision for south Asian countries, in terms of quality education and social services, Samar also cited the discrimination against the girl child in the region.

"If I had a choice, maybe I would have not born a girl," she said while recalling Farkhunda, a 27-year-old Afghan woman who was lynched by a mob on March 19 last year in Kabul over rumours of blasphemy.

"There are programmes for education and awareness but due to insecurity, majority of budget goes to military and its training. But my argument is that army and police should be there t protect people's right and if not then why should we have them?"