Afghan president Hamid Karzai has virtually turned down Pakistan's offer to train the Afghan National Army while promising to keep Islamabad in the loop about his government's plans to engage the Taliban as part of reconciliation and reintegration efforts.
During two interactions with the media here yesterday, Karzai said the Afghan government had accepted some of Pakistan's offers for military cooperation, including the supply of ammunition and equipment.
"As far as the training of Afghan soldiers and officers is concerned, my defence minister will study (this proposal) and we will come back on this," Karzai said during an interaction with editors and senior journalists.
The News daily reported that Karzai's comments amounted to "not less than a 'polite no'".
Diplomatic sources told PTI that Karzai had been "less than enthusiastic" about Pakistan's offers to train the Afghan army and police.
The issue has been raised with Karzai by president Asif Ali Zardari, prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during several recent meetings.
During his interaction with the editors, Karzai pointed out that the training of the Afghan army by the Soviets in the past had lead to "trouble".
He added, "So we are careful."
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