Top Afghan official urges US to put sanctions on Pak for backing jihadis

WASHINGTON - In what highlights the strained relationship between the two neighbouring countries, a top Afghan official has urged the United States to put sanctions on Pakistan and also refuse visas to military generals of that country.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta hurled severe accusations on Pakistani generals, saying there are definite reports that they have terror links.

“Pakistani generals and others that we know definitely are involved in supporting terrorist activities should be denied US visas,” Spanta said.

He also appeared frustrated with the US’ policies concerning Pakistan, and stressed that success in the ‘war on terror’ would continue to elude the US if it continues with its present strategies.

“It is my firm belief that we cannot win if we continue business as usual. We’ve lost the reality. We’ve lost the focus,” Spanta said.

Spanta said the “central issue is international jihadis” who take refuge in Pakistan and enjoy support and training from Pakistani military and intelligence agencies.

He also slammed the Obama administration for describing corruption as Afghanistan’s major problem, saying the US was avoiding its responsibility of pressuring Islamabad to dismantle the terror safe havens based inside the country’s boundary.

“We will fight corruption. But to put this problem and challenge at the top of all the others in Afghanistan, that’s a joke. A bad joke. It’s avoiding responsibility,” Spanta said.

He underlined that the US’ overwhelming backing of Pakistan has also “irritated” President Hamid Karzai.

“He (Karzai) accuses Pakistan of interfering in Afghanistan, but then the West calls Pakistan an important strategic partner. He thinks Pakistan is training forces to send to Afghanistan to kill our soldiers,” the top Afghan official said.

“It really irritates him (Karzai),” Spanta added. (ANI)