Pakistan Wants ‘Zero’ Political or Military Part for India in Afghanistan

 

Pakistan has promised to continue working with the United States in fighting terrorism and ending unrest in Afghanistan.

But Pakistani officials say “any political or military” role for India in Afghanistan will be unacceptable.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi made the comments this week during a talk at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump¹ announced his “new strategy” for the Afghan war and South Asia. Trump said he supported more Indian involvement in Afghanistan -- something the Pakistani government has long opposed.

“If they (India) want to do economic assistance, that’s their prerogative²,” the Pakistani prime minister said. “But there’s no — we don’t accept or see any role politically or militarily for India in Afghanistan. I think it will just complicate³ the situation and it will not resolve anything,” he added.

The Pakistani government claims the Indian intelligence agency is partnering with Afghan security forces. It accuses them of financing and plotting terrorist attacks against Pakistan through anti-state militants⁴.

Both Afghan and Indian officials deny the accusations⁵.

U.S.: Pakistan has much to gain

Pakistani officials said Abbasi also raised his country’s objections over the proposed Indian role in his talks with U.S. Vice⁶ President Mike Pence. The two men met in New York on Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting was the highest contact between Pakistani and U.S. officials since Trump gave his new strategy speech in August. He accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorists who carried out attacks against American forces in Afghanistan. The U.S. government provides billions of dollars in financial assistance to Pakistan.

After the meeting, Pence said he restated President Trump’s belief that “Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort” in South Asia.

While speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations, Abbasi repeated Pakistan’s interest in supporting a peaceful settlement to the Afghan conflict. He said that Pakistani security forces have destroyed all sanctuaries⁷ on its soil that reportedly were being used to carry out cross-border attacks.

Afghanistan: Pakistan can do more

Separately this week, Afghanistan’s president suggested Pakistan was not doing enough to stop terrorism and prevent the Taliban from using Pakistani sanctuaries to plot attacks on his country.

President Ashraf Ghani spoke⁸ at the Asia Society in New York. He repeated his offer of “comprehensive” talks with Pakistani leaders for settling their differences and working towards peace. Ghani praised Trump’s call for Pakistan to become a “responsible stakeholder” in the fight against terrorism.

The Afghan leader has said that having a peace dialogue with Pakistan will eventually end the Taliban campaign against his government.

Pakistani leaders dismiss those claims. They say the Afghan government needs to open talks with militants under an "Afghan owned and Afghan-led" peace process. They also say the Pakistani government will make all possible attempts to support the peace efforts.

Pakistani officials say it is wrong for Afghan and U.S. officials to blame their country for the Afghan crisis. They say those claims are an effort to divert attention away from security and political "failures" in Afghanistan.

President Trump also has warned that the U.S. government will not stay silent if Pakistan does not move against the suspected terrorist sanctuaries.

Afghan officials say Pakistan supports the Taliban and its partner, the Haqqani network, in an effort to slow India’s growing role in Afghanistan.

Afghan leaders, however, dismiss as unfounded Pakistani concerns about India’s growing ties with their country. They say no one will have permission to use Afghan territory against any country.

I’m Anne Ball.

Words in This Story

role – n. a part that something has in an activity or situation

prerogative – n. a special right or power

complicate – v. to make complex or more complex

sanctuary⁹ – n. shelter; a place of refuge; the protection provided by a safe place

comprehensive – adj. covering completely; including many or most things

stakeholder – n. one who is involved in or affected¹⁰ by something

dialogue – n. a discussion or series of discussions between two groups

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。

3 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。