Karzai condemns Pak's role in nurturing terrorism

Colombo, Aug 2 (UNI) Continuing his tirade against Pakistan for nurturing and supporting terrorism, Afghan President Hamid Karzai today warned that if firm and collective measures were not taken, ''terrorism will spread like wildfire and engulf the entire South Asian region,'' He also firmly asked Pakistan to stop playing geo-political games as it would prove the most destablising factor in the region.

''In Pakistan, terrorism and its sancturies are gaining a deeper grip and receiving institutional nurturing and support,'' Mr Karzai said.

The Afghan President made these terse remarks about ISI's role in giving tacit support to Taliban and Al Qaeda in his address at the 15th SAARC summit in presence of Pakistan Premier Yousaf Raza Gillani.

''Terrorism in our region feed on a residual tradition of narrow minded politics and of pursuing out moded geo-political interests,'' he further said.

He said the assassination of Benazir Bhutto demonstrated that terrorists were quite active in Pakistan.

While thriving on the absolute fringes of our tolerant and peace loving societies, terrorists in our region receive institutional nurturing and support. It is this imbedded nature of terrorists that make it much more sinister threat.

The Afghan President had accused Pakistan's ISI for suicide attack on the Indian mission in Kabul. However, Pakistan has denied its involement in the attack.

The Afghan government has also conveyed to the United States and NATO allies that the source of terrorism goes back to the sancturies in Pakistan's tribal region, known as FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Area).

Soon after his speech, Pakistan Prime Minister also expressed concern over rise of terrorism in the region and asked for unilateral and collective efforts to combat the menace.

Mr Karzai said, ''The people of Afghanistan are bearing the brunt of international terrorism on a daily basis.'' ''It is with tremendous trepediation that 'we are watching the wild fire of terrorism spreading across the region. It is time we all realise that the pursuit of narrow geo political interests and the use of militant radicals as instrument of policy can not succeed or serve any long term purpose.'' he added.

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