India-China alliance ideal for Kabul: Karzai

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai hopes US President Donald Trump will walk the talk on Pakistan and persuade it to stop its duplicity on terror. Speaking exclusively to The Tribune, Karzai advocated an India-China alliance for the regional connectivity. He suggested the way out of the China-Pak Economic Corridor row is to connect Afghanistan to Central Asia under the 

‘One Belt, One Road’ project so that India can come on board. Smita Sharma spoke to Hamid Karzai in Delhi. Excerpts from  the interview: 

What is the one significant change you find in the US administration in its Af-Pak policy? 

President Trump’s admission of Pakistan’s wrongdoing is nothing new for us. The way they have announced it is the new thing for us. Now we expect action. If they really mean it, we in Afghanistan will cooperate with them.

The US has suspended aid to Pakistan in the past too. What looks different now in the US-Pak ties?

Things were said in the past too, but the intensity of the language this time is new.  Having it come from US President Trump in very clear blatant words is a welcome change. This prompts us to expect action. We hope there will be action.  We simply want Pakistan to stop using extremism as an instrument of policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan and  neighbouring countries. 

Has a more assertive China changed the dynamics of the region? 

I have been working with China all along during my time in office and afterwards. China is not happy with the use of extremism by the Pakistan establishment as tool. We hope China will do as much as it possibly can to bring sense to Pakistan. 

Why does China then back terror masterminds like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar? 

That’s why things don’t work. We must recognise that we all have to be on the same page when it comes to fight against extremism. Hafiz Saeed must be brought to justice. 

With the US pushing for a more prominent role for India, will it cause more friction with the China-Pak axis against it?

No, I do not think so. I have had conversations with China on the issue. We in Afghanistan find it very much in our interest to have both countries in a cooperative environment in Afghanistan.

There were indications recently that Afghanistan could join CPEC to which India has objections.

We, too, have issues. Economically we approve of this project, but in terms of territorial disputes we do not. 

What is the alternative then? How do you link to OBOR without joining CPEC?

We have been endeavouring intensely to make sure India is connected to Afghanistan directly. We find it in our fundamental interest for India to be linked to Afghanistan. Pakistan is the impediment. So we try to find all other ways like Chabahar. We believe that the OBOR and the links it establishes to Iran, Central Asia is in interest of Afghanistan and connectivity.  The ideal situation for us is India-China alliance on connectivity and on other issues. The option is for China to use Afghanistan as an alternative route to connect to West Asia and other markets.

Given Trump’s approach to Iran, if the nuclear deal were to be derailed, what impact would it have on the region?

Negative. I don’t at all endorse Trump’s stand. The Iran nuclear deal must work.