Pakistan sees "zero" political or military role for India in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on 20 September, weeks after US President Donald Trump sought more help from New Delhi to bring peace and stability in the war-torn country.
Trump, while announcing his new Afghan and South Asia policy last month, had criticised Pakistan for harbouring terrorists.
The US President had also called on India to help the US more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development.
Asked about India's role in Afghanistan, Abbasi said, "Zero."
We don’t foresee any political or military role for India in Afghanistan. I think it will just complicate the situation and it will not resolve anything. So, if they want to do economic assistance, that’s their prerogative, but we don’t accept or see any role politically or militarily for India in Afghanistan.Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan Prime Minister
"Do you see a business role for them in Afghanistan as investors?" he was asked.
"That's up to them. All countries have the right to trade with each other, invest in other countries. So if they want to do that—and India has invested in Afghanistan in the past," Abbasi said.
The Pakistan Prime Minister dismissed the question of links between the Haqqani network and Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.
We do not condone any activities by any organisation to pose a terrorist threat within Pakistan or to export it to other countries.
Abbasi said that nobody wants peace more in Afghanistan than Pakistan.
This perception that there are (terrorist) sanctuaries is absolutely not correct. We have defeated the enemy on our own territory. We have destroyed the sanctuaries. And today, the cross-border incursions, if they happen, are from Afghanistan into Pakistan to attack our forces.
Asked about the presence of terrorist groups and individuals like Hafeez Saeed in Pakistan, Abbasi said he belonged to a proscribed organisation.
"We have taken action against him. He is in house arrest.
Addressing a New York audience at an event organised by the Council on Foreign Relations – a top American think-tank – Abbasi said Pakistan wanted its relationship with the US to move forward despite differences.
It’s a relationship that goes beyond Afghanistan. It’s 70 years old, and we view it in that context. And we are engaged today. We want this relationship to move forward. And I don’t see any obstacles in that process.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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