Daily Times

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai who ruled Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014, has expressed hope that Pakistan pursues good relations with Afghanistan under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, sources reported.

The publication quoted the Afghan leader had an “excellent” relationship with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who according to Karzai, was keen to engage in fruitful ties with Afghanistan.

“I hope that Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz’s brother would follow the same path,” Karzai said. He said that PM Shehbaz Sharif will get a positive response from the Afghan people as well.

Speaking about the airstrikes made allegedly by Pakistani forces in Kunar and Khos provinces, Karzai called them a clear violation of Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said that the Afghan people condemn the killing of Afghan women and children.

Moreover, Karzai also emphasised the need to allow girls above sixth grade to return to school.

However, he called the recent attack on a school in western Kabul an “attack against Afghanistan’s efforts for educating its young, its peace and movement towards stability and progress.”

In all the meanwhile, Karzai advised Ukraine to be “wise” enough to avoid falling into the “big games” of world powers.