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Karzai for tripolar ties with India, Pak
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 11
Visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai today came out in support of trilateral cooperation between Kabul, Islamabad and New Delhi for rapid economic development and quicker progress of the region.

Pleading for economic cooperation, he also endorsed New Delhi’s stand saying even if the Kashmir problem was not solved, India and Pakistan should address other issues for the betterment of the region.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai with Dr Karan Singh after the inauguration of the Afghan festival in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI photo

Afghanistan wanted India and Pakistan to sort out their problems, he said at a breakfast meeting with editors here.

When pointed out that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has linked giving transit facility to India for transporting goods to Afghanistan with the resolution of the Kashmir problem, he skirted a direct reply saying it was an issue between India and Pakistan.

India has rejected linking of resolution of the Kashmir problem with progress on other outstanding issues with Pakistan.

The Afghan President favoured a tripolar structure involving India and Pakistan for economic betterment and quicker progress of the region.

“The tripolar structure of cooperation among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan would bring quicker progress and economic betterment to the region,” he said.

He said he had discussed this issue during talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who “too was of the same view”.

Asked about Pakistan’s response to the proposal, he said it also “understands it very well”.

About the transit problem faced by India in sending goods to Afghanistan via Pakistan, he said he would pursue the matter with Islamabad.

Asked if Pakistan was doing enough to combat terrorism, he said it was working with the rest of the international community in that regard.

He also praised Pakistan for making efforts to flush out Taliban elements from the restive Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

On whether Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan, he said Islamabad was looking for him. “If they find him there, I am sure they will hand him over in a manner that is in keeping with our fight against terrorism,” he added.

About Musharraf being upset with him over reports from Kabul that Taliban and Al-Qaida militants continued to operate from the Pakistani soil, he said, “Musharraf and I have a close relationship. We are friends, and between friends there are moments when frank words are exchanged...I will give him a call within a few days.”