Afghan-President-Hamid-Karzai

By Zacki Jabbar,  Describing Human Rights as an issue that all countries were faced with, the visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday that the real problem lay with the West’s attitude.

Addressing the media at the Colombo Hilton, after holding bilateral talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said it was the duty of every state to protect its citizens’ rights and ensure their freedom, but without peace human rights could not be guaranteed.

Asked what he thought was the reason for the Rajapaksa government being pilloried at the ongoing UNHRC sessions in Geneva, despite what he termed as its impressive achievements in the post war period, the Afghan leader replied human rights had become an issue for all countries. “The problem lies with the attitude of the West. I, will not2 say anything more on that. Peace will bring you a good life and the protection of human rights. The Afghan people understood your predicament having to face violence on a daily basis. War is the biggest enemy of rights and peace the best assurance of it.”

Karzai observed that if his country

could end its violent civil war, as Sri Lanka had done even in the next ten to fifteen years, he would be very happy. “Peace is imperative not only for Afghanistan’s progress, but also for the region that we live in.”

Describing his meeting with President Rajapaksa as cordial and fruitful, the Afghan leader said he was impressed by the progress that Sri Lanka had made in the post war era.

The agreements between the two countries on cooperation in training of Afghan nurses in Colombo, Education and Sports, he noted would further strengthen bilateral ties.

Karzai, was scheduled to visit Colombo last month, but it was postponed due Taliban attacks on his government’s troops in Kunar Province. This is his first-ever State visit to Sri Lanka.

Courtesy: The Island, March 6, 2014