Pakistan tried to scuttle anti-terror pledge at Afghan conference

LONDON - The Pakistani delegation to a global conference on Afghanistan Thursday tried - but failed - to scotch a pledge by the international community to work at destroying the lifeline of logistical and financial support for terrorist networks.

Ministers from some 70 countries gathered in London were presented with a draft communiqu that committed them to work actively for combating terrorism including but not limited to increased intelligence-sharing, dismantling the logistical, financial and ideological support for terrorist networks and tackling the causes of radicalization.

The reference in the communiqu was part of a series of measures countries are expected to take in the context of regional cooperation to secure a stable future for Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s bid to delete it was unpopular.

There was an effort made to delete the references, but no one else came out in support of that proposition. So that language remains, India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad told IANS at a post-conference briefing Thursday.

As a result of India’s efforts, the conference came out strongly against terrorist and extremist groups, including the Al Qaeda, the Taliban and their allies.

The revelation about the failed Pakistani bid came as External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Friday that India went along with the global thinking that former Taliban militants should be taken back if they renounce violence, surrender weapons and pledge allegiance to the Afghan constitution.

They should be given a second chance. A solution through military action is not the only alternative. I think there are other alternatives which also need to be tried, he told IANS.

The only adjective is that it has to be an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned initiative and the international community should support that Afghan-led initiative, he said.

India, on its part, will continue to constructively engage itself in Afghanistan in helping develop its infrastructure and supporting its democratic apparatus, Krishna added.