Hamid Karzai wants to carry out joint terror op with India - India Today

Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, is a frequent diplomatic flyer to India, a trusted friend and a strategic ally. During his visits to India, he has developed a circle of friends that transcends political boundaries. He still has fond memories of his days in Shimla as a student of political science in Himachal Pradesh University.

The tall Pathan leader calls India "an all weather friend" as he settles down for an exclusive interview with Mail Today in his seventh floor suite in the Capital's Oberoi hotel.

Combating terrorism from Pakistan and stability of his country and the region reportedly dominated talks when he held separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

"We asked for more hardware, training and mentoring for our armed forces," the 56-year-old President told Mail Today. "India and Afghanistan must strengthen their old institutional links to cooperate against terrorist groups."

Pressed further if he saw the possibility of an Indo-Afghanistan cooperation to flush out Pakistan-based terror groups, Karzai said, "When there is a need for a joint operation to flush out terrorist groups, when both countries are threatened then we need to put our resources together, why not, definitely."

He, however, quickly added, "We know the history of terrorism (and) who promoted (it), but now is the time for the three countries in the region, to have a joint fight... India and Afghanistan will benefit if they take the cooperation of Pakistan as well."

Without naming Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, the Afghan President said he will welcome those Taliban elements who are not in the clutches of any foreign agency, while referring to possibility of peace talks with the extremist group. "Those Taliban (leaders) who do not have any links with terrorist groups or a foreign intelligence agency are welcome to join the political mainstream. Those in Taliban who believe there should be a political solution should be allowed."

Karzai has been slammed by the critics and even some of his own Generals for resisting a bilateral security agreement with the US that will allow some US soldiers to stay on in Afghanistan beyond 2014. He, however, seems unperturbed. "The US shouldn't act like a big bully. There have been occasions where the US has acted in a different way. Afghanistan has said no to enforcers. We are partners of the US. We have a condition that the signing of the agreement must bring safety and security to Afghan homes and it must become a vehicle to launch the peace process in the country."

Karzai is clearly demonstrating that he is no walkover besides using the situation in his country as a bargaining chip. The strong statements like these will help him garner support among Afghans who believe their selfpride to be above everything else.

He didn't mince his words on whether India has advised him to go for the bilateral security agreement with the US. "India is an all-weather friend. India realises that the relationship with the US is in best interest of Afghanistan and the region. While India supports the bilateral security agreement, India also supports the need for security and peace for Afghanistan," said the Afghan President, who is on a four-day visit to India.

For Karzai, the issue has brought him into global glare with his tough stance. Karzai became Afghanistan's interim leader in December 2001 and had a honeymoon relationship with the US and its NATO allies. He won elections in 2004 and 2009, and in April 2014 will stand down to make way for a new President.

Asked about the role he envisages for India in the post-2014 scenario, he said, "India has been a front-runner. India provided over $2 billion to Afghan people, the money which has been spent well. India definitely has role beyond 2014, in providing education to Afghan youth. We want India to be a strong strategic ally of Afghanistan.

Karzai, who has faced several attempts on his life, is largely unshaken. Asked if he ever wanted to leave everything, he said, "I never come under pressure. There may be pressure but I want to go on."

The Afghan President has close linkages to India: He can speak fluent Hindi and is fond of cricket and Bollywood movies.

On his plans post the summer of 2014, when a new President will be elected, he said, "I will spend life as a retired President of Afghanistan. I will be free to travel and I will definitely write my memoirs."

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