Karzai Accuses Pakistan of Promoting Extremism Amid Regional Security Concerns
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has accused Pakistan of systematically supporting extremism and using it as a tool in its foreign policy. Responding to recent remarks by a senior European Union official, Karzai stated that Pakistan’s current security problems are a direct result of these policies pursued over the past four decades, policies he believes have been directed against Afghanistan.
In a message posted on the social media platform X, Karzai wrote that Islamabad’s backing of extremist groups has led to widespread instability and heavy casualties in Afghanistan. He emphasized that this approach has not only jeopardized Afghanistan’s security but also undermined regional stability.
The former president also expressed gratitude for humanitarian aid from European countries and the European Union to Afghanistan and called for a precise evaluation of the “real roots” of insecurity and the role of external factors in assessing regional crises.
These remarks came shortly after Kaya Kalas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated during a joint meeting with Pakistan’s foreign minister that recent conflicts between Pakistan and the Taliban have resulted in serious humanitarian consequences and increased risks of escalating instability and extremism. Kalas affirmed Pakistan’s right to self-defense under international law but added that dialogue, rather than airstrikes, is the best path to reduce tensions and overcome the crisis.
Kalas made her comments during the eighth round of strategic dialogue between the European Union and Pakistan in Islamabad, a meeting that focused heavily on the situation in Afghanistan and regional security.
In another part of his message, Karzai referred to the historical relationship between Afghanistan and Europe, describing it as “friendly and constructive” over more than a century.
