Pakistan holds 'keys to war', says Afghan president
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KABUL: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday that the “keys to war are in Islamabad, Quetta, Rawalpindi”, suggesting Pakistan was a safe haven for cross-border militant activities.
Ghani said the “key to peace was in Afghanistan”, as talks between Taliban and US officials on ending the 17-year war in Afghanistan appear to be gaining momentum.
Ghani made the remarks as US peace negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad visited Kabul for consultations on his progress in talks with the Taliban.
Also read: Afghan president calls on Taliban to 'enter serious talks' with Kabul
In 2017, Pakistan began building a fence on its disputed 2,500 km border with Afghanistan to prevent incursions by militants.
Ghani also questioned the religious legitimacy of the Taliban, who have repeatedly refused to hold direct peace talks with the Afghan government.
“If the Afghan government is illegitimate, so where does the Taliban get their legitimacy from?” he said. “Islamic scholars in Makkah and Indonesia said that suicide attacks and killing of civilians does not have a legitimacy... so where is the source of Taliban’s legitimacy?” he asked.
Direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban collapsed in 2015, and the Taliban, fighting to drive out international forces and re-establish their version of strict Islamic law, have said they plan to continue negotiating with the US officials on Feb 25.
Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019
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On DawnNews
Jan 31, 2019 10:43am
Turn the lights out when you leave...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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Jan 31, 2019 10:43am
Mayor of Kabul should know his limits and must stay with in them .
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Jan 31, 2019 10:57am
True.
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Jan 31, 2019 11:05am
He just want to derail the negotiation exactly as what previous Afghan president did in 2013.
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Jan 31, 2019 11:06am
Afghans are intelligent.
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Jan 31, 2019 11:12am
Ghani is right.
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Jan 31, 2019 11:14am
If the peace talks between US-Taliban, comes to an agreement, and US troops leave, later, Taliban violates the agreement for peace, who is to be blamed?
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Jan 31, 2019 11:51am
Well said, correct
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Jan 31, 2019 12:00pm
@Ashmita, the one who trusted Taliban.
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Jan 31, 2019 12:05pm
Last over for ruling Afghan regime to finish their batting. Trying to get some boundaries.
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Jan 31, 2019 12:07pm
So why was everyone begging Pakistan to facilitate the talks ?
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Jan 31, 2019 12:12pm
Do more
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Jan 31, 2019 12:30pm
@Ashmita, "Taliban violates the agreement for peace, who is to be blamed?" Aghans will violate agreement about peace in Afghanistan with a foreign country???
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Jan 31, 2019 12:30pm
@SATT, "Afghans are intelligent." Taliban are Afghan. Hence proven....!!!
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Jan 31, 2019 12:32pm
@Abhishek, "Ghani is right." The Indian ambassador in Afghanistan, right?
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Jan 31, 2019 12:38pm
@SATT, Yeah, That why they are in this mess.
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Jan 31, 2019 12:48pm
@Waseem Chaudhry,
Indeed his role is limited to mayor of kabul only since outside the city, Afghan govt has no control infact kabul may fall to Talibans within few days if US moves out.
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Jan 31, 2019 12:58pm
the whole world knows, Say something different
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Jan 31, 2019 01:23pm
Very old habit since Kaezai was President. For their own failures they always blame others. The Afghan politcians want to keep Afghanistan unstable and collect Aid money from the world for themselves.,
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Jan 31, 2019 01:34pm
Delhi speaking through Ghani's statement.
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Jan 31, 2019 01:37pm
@Ashmita,
If US troops leave and continue to drone Taliban, considering they have no American lives to loose even if Taliban retaliate, then who would be blamed?
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Jan 31, 2019 01:43pm
Ashraf Ghani seems to have second thoughts about the ongoing peace talks.
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Jan 31, 2019 02:09pm
@Waseem Chaudhry, he is the Indian ambassador to Kabul
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Jan 31, 2019 02:10pm
Election in Afghanistan
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Jan 31, 2019 02:11pm
True Mr. President.
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Jan 31, 2019 02:35pm
Spot on !!
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Jan 31, 2019 02:36pm
@Abhishek, Indian is worried for his brother.
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Jan 31, 2019 02:39pm
@Waseem Chaudhry, Like USA said about I Khan, Mayor or Islamabad ?
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Jan 31, 2019 02:45pm
The US should promise the Afghan government continued financial support after they leave and they will be more willing to compromise in their talks.
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Jan 31, 2019 02:47pm
@SATT, Yes like you Indians very intelligent..!
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Jan 31, 2019 03:41pm
This corrupt puppet knows that his days are numbered in the offive. As he has no place or status in the new and upcoming Taliban Government that is why he is crying.
Bye, bye, see you never ever again!
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Jan 31, 2019 03:41pm
America is surrendering like it did in vietnam , rest of the talk is just lip service. I.e by engaging with Taliban directly they have bypassed the Gani government thus submitting to the Taliban's demand and putting them in drivers seat. Also Taliban leadership have stated they might not honor certain terms of the withdraw agreement . Richard Haass, a former senior US State Department planner, commented: “The Taliban have concluded that it is only a matter of time before the United States grows weary of stationing troops in a far-off country and spending $45 billion a year on a war that cannot be won… they have little need to compromise.”
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Jan 31, 2019 03:41pm
@Abhishek, take him home to India then.
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Jan 31, 2019 04:04pm
Pakistan does not take seriously the comments of puppets. The taliban have more legitimacy in Afghanistan than the government because at least they don't need 40+ foreign armies to help them stay in power.
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Jan 31, 2019 04:36pm
And Ashraf Ghani doesn't even hold the key to his palace. Both the Taliban and the US know this and soon it will be bye bye Mr. Ghani.
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Jan 31, 2019 04:51pm
Dear Mayor of Kabul(Because Afghan puppet government don’t control anything outside of the capital city)You’re puppet of Invaders that’s way there’s no point in talking to you Taliban will directly talking to your masters
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Jan 31, 2019 04:53pm
@ Simarjit Singh Mann, Like US made fun of Modi for boasting about building a library in Afghanistan
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Jan 31, 2019 04:56pm
@Abhishek, India should offer him refuge.
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Jan 31, 2019 05:12pm
If what you are saying is right then you must get rid of the Indian role and rule first before restoring lasting peace and stability in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
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Jan 31, 2019 05:22pm
Mr. President broad any US flight before it get too late.
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Jan 31, 2019 05:37pm
This guy ghani is frightened of loosing his power once the negotiation works out. He surely will no longer be in business in a post occupation Afghanistan. With him will come an end of India's high hope. So he is saying what he could say out of frustration and despair along with his Indian peers.
The facts remains that his authority does not extend outside Kabul and talibans have solid support among Afghans. Do you think the Americans are stupid to negotiate with the Talibans if they had realized that the Talibans have no popular support?
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Jan 31, 2019 06:01pm
He is not even a mayor of Kabul more like a mere head clerk
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Jan 31, 2019 06:03pm
This guy has no power outside his bedroom in kabul.
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Jan 31, 2019 06:28pm
Mr Ghani is the main culprit & enemy for Pakistan.
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Jan 31, 2019 06:35pm
Ghani is an incompetent and a corrupt person put as a PM by Obama administration. He is Nawaz Sharif of Afghanistan only interested in money laundering and bank accounts building.
His statements will always be anti Pakistan to shift blame for his actions. But he cannot impress Trump administration anymore.
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Jan 31, 2019 06:54pm
How are such statements hoing to help? He is seeing the end of his game!
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Jan 31, 2019 07:04pm
Mr.Ghani has got it totally wrong.Pakistan as a neighbor has suffered a lot and paid a heavy price.For a change,say some thing nice about Pakistan.
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Jan 31, 2019 07:16pm
thanks for useful news Ghani sahib which could set back any possible peace..
The cheque from your best friends is on its way!!
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Jan 31, 2019 07:22pm
@Waseem Chaudhry,
Look who is talking. Unfortunately, your Afghan history knowledge is zero. Check your islamabad mayor's character first for past 72 years. Get a life man.
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Jan 31, 2019 07:27pm
So why don't you join there as a clerk to learn how to run affairs of a country.
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Jan 31, 2019 08:12pm
Looks like in the new plans Presidency of Mr. Ghani is in trouble? Mr. Karzai had similar problems until he found out and accepted the facts a little too late. The first step should be new free and fair elections in Afghanistan to have all groups seriously participate. Once all groups freely participate and have their representatives in Afghan system then we can really call it a legitimate government. Hope it all works out for peace and above all represented and a corruption free government in Afghanistan. Keys of peace are in a naya Afghanistan with representation in government of all groups.
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Jan 31, 2019 08:45pm
Pakistan as usual involved in all wrong activities. You will pay for all this one day.
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Jan 31, 2019 09:09pm
I guess he is feeling not important therefore making controversial comments.
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Jan 31, 2019 09:21pm
Pakistan holds the key for unity and America is a key to break the unity!
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Jan 31, 2019 09:32pm
Mayor of kabul is trained in India, what do you expect
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Jan 31, 2019 09:37pm
Okay
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Jan 31, 2019 10:47pm
Mr. Ghani you should use the ‘Keys to Peace’ that you are holding.
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Jan 31, 2019 11:51pm
never knew that Pakistan is such a powerful country
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Feb 01, 2019 12:05am
@Khyber, - why so upset about Waseem’s comments? Is it his true comments or your lack of understanding that hurt you the most? Please explain. Thanks
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Feb 01, 2019 01:32am
What a joke! Millions of Afghanis work in Pakistan, pretty much took all the low-profile jobs and we have to listen to this. Come on!
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Feb 01, 2019 02:46am
@ManMohan, ‘The whole world.....’
You mean your world as in Indian media.
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Feb 01, 2019 02:47am
@Sanity, Along with the 3 million Refugees.
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Feb 01, 2019 05:21am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you seem to be living in some kind of dream sultanate.
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Feb 01, 2019 12:55pm
@fawad, "never knew that Pakistan is such a powerful country" You need to redefine what powerful country means. The sun is the most powerful body in the solar system but does not willfully make me buy a certain brand of chocolate, the shopkeeper in my neighborhood does, although insignificant in comparison.
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Feb 01, 2019 01:18pm
Afghan govt and their Indian puppet masters are uncomfortable with the fact the Taliban are coming to power very soon
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Feb 01, 2019 02:53pm
Sadly those who had the keys for peace in the past 17 years did use them.
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Feb 01, 2019 03:40pm
US should promise them financial support and they will be happy.
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Feb 01, 2019 07:05pm
Modi Dictate Ghani = To Create Troubles
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Feb 01, 2019 07:24pm
@SATT, I think when Pakistan closes the border with Afghanistan and deports all the Afghan refugees, the world will see the truth. It is only Afghans themselves and their Indian masters who have a mess of the region.Ghani like a lot of these Afghan leaders have left their families and wives in the West while they loot aid and money in Afghanistan so they will have money to run back to when they again run away begging from Afghanistan. The only export Afghanistan has is refugees which you will see all over the world. At least they will no longer be able to get to Pakistan when the fence is finished !
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Feb 01, 2019 07:34pm
For any peace in Afghanistan, India must be kept out or this war will prolong for another decade.
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Feb 01, 2019 07:56pm
From Hamid Karzai to Zalmay Khalizad to Ashraf Ghani. They all have one thing in common. They are warlords and cannot be trusted. They sing the tunes of their highest bidder on a given day. One day they will praise Pakistan and the next day, they will issue a statement against Pakistan.
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Feb 01, 2019 08:01pm
Who Told you to say that?
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Feb 01, 2019 08:45pm
Does this man have any credentials to speak? Everyone knows Afghanistan can't control 90% of their own land
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Feb 01, 2019 09:20pm
Any man who wants foreign troops to occupy his country is no less than a despicable traitor.
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Feb 01, 2019 09:27pm
Pakistan must stop to negotiate for Afghanistan ,we waste our time ,security and moneys because Afghanistan ,afghanis have double face, send out all afghanis refugees, and seal the border
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Feb 01, 2019 11:08pm
A failed state run by failed governments who take no responsibility.
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Feb 01, 2019 11:44pm
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani is more interested in maintaining his drug empire.
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Feb 02, 2019 01:58am
Ghani is afraid , he is going to loose his power, and his picnic will come to an end .
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Feb 02, 2019 03:01am
@Abhishek, Ghani is left
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Feb 02, 2019 07:28am
Yea I see you too
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Feb 02, 2019 10:50am
@Ashmita, That is precisely what will happen. US forces would have to return sooner than later as again threat will build for the US.
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Feb 02, 2019 12:06pm
India wants a share too, Ghani is working on this agenda as we all know...
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Feb 02, 2019 02:07pm
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani (Puppet) is just playing blame game because not in capacity to govern to the people of Afghanistan, only staying in Kabul palace boundary not going around the people of Afghanistan simply want to escape from the responsibility and very very poor president to resolve the issues of people of Afghanistan only know howto become enemy of Pakistan just to please his Master India...
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