Hope US keeps raising issue of terrorism with Pak: Dr. Abdullah Abdullah

You met Prime Minister Modi. How did the meeting go?

We had a very good discussion. India has helped Afghanistan in many ways. Prime Minister Modi’s 2015 visit to Afghanistan was historical and his address to the Afghan parliament was welcomed by people. India-Afghanistan ties are moving forward in an energetic manner. India has identified high-impact development projects to undertake in Afghanistan. Mr. Modi is open, passionate about helping Afghanistan, to stabilise the country. We discussed  the Chabahar port project in Iran which will boost connectivity and Afghanistan’s economy.   

We are meeting on the first anniversary of India’s surgical strikes across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. How do you view Pakistan’s role?

It is incumbent on all of us to deal with the threat of terrorism and to cooperate with each other. Terrorism will not help any country.

Is Pakistan a fit case to be declared as a state sponsor of terrorism?

No doubt, the priority of Afghanistan is to deal with terror. In talks with Pakistan, security challenges and terrorism are top priority. How to move bilaterally, regionally or globally, that is a different issue. There is a very broad recognition worldwide that this threat has to be dealt with by all countries.

By the US’s own admission, there are at least 20 terror groups operating in Pakistan. Why then is the international community so reluctant to call Pakistan’s bluff?

The international community would choose or opt the way they want to. As for Afghanistan, we hope that this issue is dealt with in the right manner by all countries. That is our main interest. We will engage with our neighbours, including Pakistan, in the future, too. From our side, we assured all that Afghanistan will not be a threat to any country. We want to survive as a nation, we have extended a hand of friendship to all...

But has Pakistan reciprocated?

We want it to be reciprocated.

How do you view President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy?

His conditions-based approach is the right one. We are thankful for the US’s help. If the US had not been present, the situation would have become very difficult; it would have favoured terror networks.

Should the US designate Pakistan as a rogue state, cut aid to Pakistan, remove Pakistan’s non-NATO ally status or all of the above?

The US policy has considered different measures. I am sure they have raised it and will raise it with Pakistani authorities and continue to do so. They will make a judgment based on that.

Would you welcome talks with the Taliban?

We have kept the door open for talks with the Taliban in spite of the problems and challenges that we have.

The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) might be in retreat in West Asia but its ideology remains as virulent as ever. How can the world tackle it?

This ideology will take much more sophisticated ways of dealing with it than just military means. The ISIS’s defeat is a major one but to defeat it ideologically will require a long-term strategy.