Afghanistan’s neighbour impediment to its growth: Minister

Baku (Azerbaijan), Dec 1 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar on Friday said several countries, including India, have striven hard to improve the socio-economic and security situation in Afghanistan but a "certain neighbour" of Afghanistan has consistently indulged in violence, extremism, disruption and deceit as its only contribution to the region.

While many concerned members of the international community had invested billions of dollars in the search for peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan, one nation invested in death, destruction and destabilisation, Akbar said at the "7th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process" here.

"When we discuss Afghanistan's security, we can't do so without recognising that the fountainhead of violence in Afghanistan is nurtured in the city of Quetta, which has become the biggest sanctuary and export hub of terrorism," a release quoted him as saying.

"Afghanistan's people and government are at war with a force whose leadership lives not only outside the borders of Afghanistan but also outside the laws of humanity. They continue to thwart our collective efforts, in pursuit of narrowly defined and warped geo-theological priorities.

"It is time to call a spade a spade," Akbar said.

"We must send a consistent and firm message to those who sponsor, arm, finance and supervise terrorism and violence from beyond Afghanistan's borders. Security in Afghanistan is going to be a difficult proposition as long as sponsors of mayhem and chaos are not held accountable. The world is watching... The world cannot remain silent, for silence is an invitation to continued havoc," he said.

The minister said India welcomed the growing determination and international consensus against terrorists and their supporters.

He pointed out that Afghanistan has the undeniable potential to emerge as the land-bridge between various parts of the vast and dynamic Eurasian landmass.

"We describe Afghanistan, correctly, as the Heart of Asia. This has been its vantage across the centuries, from an era that drifts back to the days of pre-recorded history. But what do we do when a deliberate attempt is made by one of its neighbours to choke an ancient and vibrant artery to this heart?" Akbar said.