Afghanistan must cut off links with terrorism, give up violence: Krishna

KABUL - Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Tuesday called on the Afghanistan Government to take steps to cut off links with terrorists and give up violence to ensure both peace and reintegration.

Addressing a one-day international conference on Afghanistan here, which is being attended by 70 world leaders, Krishna said: The international community should ensure that there is no selectivity in dealing with terrorism. Terrorism cannot be compartmentalised. As President Karzai said today, it is the vicious common enemy we face. Today, one cannot distinguish between Al Qaeda and plethora of terrorist organizations, which have imbibed the goals and techniques of Al Qaeda. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith.”

“India supports Afghanistan’s efforts towards peace and reintegration. But, for such an effort to succeed, it must be fully Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and carry all sections of Afghanistan’s population together as well as abide by the redlines agreed to at the London Conference, i.e., giving up violence, cutting off all links with terrorism - whether jehadi or state-sponsored - and accepting the democratic and pluralistic values of the Afghan Constitution, including women’s rights,” he added.

The international community must learn lessons from past experiences at negotiating with fundamentalist and extremist organizations and ensure that any peace process is conducted in an inclusive and transparent manner, Krishna said.

“Adequate capacity of the Afghan security forces and other Afghan institutions is a sine qua non for protecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty, plurality and democracy. Gains of the last nine years stand to be squandered if this aspect does not receive the attention that it deserves as the international community ponders its next steps regarding Afghanistan,” he added. By Mrityunjay Singh (ANI)