Pak using Afghanistan as a pawn to counter India's influence: Afghan lawmaker

Los Angeles, July 17 (ANI): Pakistan's backing of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reconciliation process to bring peace and stability in the war torn country by offering the Taliban major role in country's politics is primarily aimed at countering India's influence in the country.

According to observers, the Afghan people, particularly non-Pastuns, are apprehensive that Islamabad would try to broker a peace deal with the Taliban that will guarantee its own continuing influence and counter that of India.

Many also believe that it was Pakistan which forced Karzai to sack the country's intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh, who was a harsh critic of Pakistan's links with insurgents and well regarded by the West.

Karzai has been unable to tackle Pakistan's unnecessary interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs, and it appears that now he has started hailing it also.

"Mr. Karzai has been unable to reduce Pakistani interference, and now it seems he welcomes it," The Los Angeles Times quoted an Afghan lawmaker Fazal Karim Aymaq, as saying.

Aymaq also pointed out that his country was again being used by the neighbouring state as a means to set right its own regional agendas.

"So, once again we will see Afghanistan used as a pawn," he said. (ANI)