NEW YORK: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who has consistently stressed rapprochement with Pakistan says he is “cautiously optimistic” about improved relations with its neighbour.

Speaking at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday evening, he said he thought “Pakistan is integral to peace efforts with the Taliban”.

“I am `cautiously optimistic’ that we’ve begun a process of fundamental transformation,” he told the council.

Pakistani support has been seen as crucial in recent moves to persuade the Taliban to talk to Kabul, as well as in denying them safe havens on Pakistani soil.

“I am hopeful that we (Pakistan and Afghanistan) will have sufficient wisdom not to sink but to swim together,” he added.

Agencies add: Mr Ghani, who said both countries were working to end 13 years of hostilities, believes improved relations with Pakistan are key to denying support for Afghan Taliban insurgents.

“Without sanctuary, a long-term rebellion is impossible. When sanctuaries end, peace breaks out. That is what happened in Central America and Latin America, that is what has happened in Africa,” he said.

Mr Ghani cited a Taliban massacre at a school in Peshawar in December that left 153 people dead, mostly children, as helping to bring the two governments closer together.

“Terrorists neither require passports nor recognise nationalities,” Mr Ghani said.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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