Pakistan a destabilising factor in Afghanistan: Rabbani

TIL Desk/World/Washington-Terror groups continue to have safe havens in Pakistan and its establishment provides unhindered support to terrorists, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said today, slamming Pakistan for being the destabilising factor in his war-torn country.

Noting that the Ghani government, soon after coming to power, tried to open a new chapter of relationship with Islamabad, Rabbani told a Washington audience: “Unfortunately, we did not see practical steps taken by Pakistan on the promises they made.”

Rabbani, who is currently visiting the city to attend the US-sponsored anti-coalition group meeting, urged the Trump Administration to put pressure on Pakistan to stop using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. “This has to stop,” he said in response to a question, adding that he expects the same from China, a good friend of Pakistan. “A paradigm shift in Pakistan is needed to bring Taliban on the peace table,” Rabbani said, as he praised the role of India for the all round development of Afghanistan.