Karzai concerns over control of Afghan foreign policy by Pakistan

Afghanistan outgoing president Hamid Karzai expressed concern over Afghanistan foreign policy control by Pakistan.

Hamid Karzai, former Afghan president warned that Pakistan cooperation in peace talks should not cause the country controls Afghanistan foreign policy and succumb to the pressures and demands of Pakistan is alarming for the country.

Karzai in an interview with Guardian tells his concern over Afghanistan’s tilt towards Pakistan and Ashraf Ghani’s gamble on brokering a peace deal with the Taliban.

“We want a friendly relationship but not to be under Pakistan’s thumb,” Karzai said.

According to Guardian, Karzai rejected any suggestion he is at the center of what one of his former colleagues describes as an emerging “pocket of opposition” to Ghani.

“Yes, I have differences, but I will not say anything,” Karzai said. “I will keep mum, giving advice to President Ghani in private. I absolutely support this government.”

Despite professing loyalty, Karzai sharply criticized some of Ghani’s key innovations, such as the decision last month to send six army cadets to Pakistan for officer training. Karzai’s willingness to send men to India while spurning Pakistan enraged Pakistan’s generals, who believed the future leaders of the Afghan army were being indoctrinated by their mortal enemies.

“We should not send troops for training in any of the neighboring countries, particularly when they are sending us suicide bombers in return,” Karzai said – a reference to the fact that the leadership of the Taliban, and much of the movement’s organizational and logistical muscle, is allowed to operate freely inside Pakistan.

These statements express as the national unity government tries to assure Pakistan that Kabul wants a friendship relation with Islamabad.

While Afghan analysts had always declared that Pakistan has never stood by its commitments against Afghanistan.