Thaindian News

Washington, Apr.17 (ANI): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani has said that his country would not want India to establish any military or intelligence base in Afghanistan, which would prove detrimental for Islamabad’s integrity and stability.

In an interview to The Financial Times, Haqqani said Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region, adding that it would never want Afghan soil to be used to destabilise and weaken other countries.

“Any Indian presence in Afghanistan should not be a strategic military or intelligence presence that threatens Pakistan’s integrity, stability and strength,” Haqqani said while replying to a question.

When asked to explain Pakistan’s concerns over India’s increasing presence in Afghanistan, Haqqani said Islamabad has shared with the US, information and intelligence regarding its activities inside Afghanistan that are unfavourable for his country’s security.

He stressed that Pakistan is committed to rooting out militancy from its soil, and would not allow it to be used by organisations such as the Al-Qaeda.

“There will be no area of Pakistan which will be available to any al Qaeda-linked group whether it is Afghan originated or Pakistani, that pose a threat to Pakistan or any member of the international community,” Haqqani said.

Haqqani asserted that Pakistan does not want the Taliban to take over Afghanistan once again after the US pulls out of the war ravaged country.

“That should be clear to everyone. It is not in Pakistan’s interests to see the Taliban return to power in Afghanistan. All we are looking for is that post-American withdrawal from Afghanistan, the biggest reality for Pakistan is that we do not want the Taliban running Afghanistan, with demands from Pakistani Taliban to try to create a similar system on the Pakistani side,” he explained. (ANI)