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KABUL: Making common cause with India, Afghanistan has backed Narendra Modi’s recent comments slamming those who “glorify” terrorism, adding that some in the region are using terrorists as “strategic tools”.

In an exclusive interaction with the ‘Asian Age’ newspaper, Afghan Ambassador in New Delhi Shaida Mohammad Abdali made it clear that Taliban terrorists have found sanctuary in Pakistan and said the Pakistan government should drive them out if they do not agree to participate in the peace process.

Not naming any country but leaving no one in doubt as to which he was referring to, the Afghan envoy said, “We should call terrorists as terrorists. ... We in this region, some, look at terrorists as strategic tools. That is the problem. The crux of the matter is the use of terrorism under various names but in reality it is the State that is engineering against other neighbours ... we hope terrorism is not glorified as Prime Minister Modi mentioned in his Independence Day speech. He said that some terrorists are glorified. I fully agree.”

Mr. Abdali also said people who perpetuate terrorism will eventually pay a much bigger price than the current victims since terrorists will inevitably turn back to attack them.

The Afghan envoy added, “We hope that the call by Afghanistan and India for peace will be listened to and that we don’t see the use of terrorism as an instrument against other neighbours by any state or non-state actors.The ground realities are that terrorism is being supported, sanctuaries exist and they are used against other neighbours ... we hope countries in the region particularly, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan cooperate genuinely and not talk that which is not matched by action. There is need for action to support what we say.”