Impressive strides towards development:

Afghanistan to replicate Sri Lanka's peace story - President Karzai

By Manjula Fernando

Afghan President Hamid Karzai who was on a two- day state visit to Sri Lanka from last Wednesday said his visit here was an eye- opener and he witnessed first hand how peace prevailed in the country. His visit marked the opening of the first Afghan mission in Sri Lanka and signing of four Agreements and MoUs in nurses training, education, sports and export of Sri Lankan professional and skilled manpower.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is greeted by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a welcoming ceremony in Colombo on March 6, 2014. The Afghan leader was in Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit. AFP

Addressing the media President Karzai stressed, 'This has been a visit which has been an eye- opener, to us. We witnessed peace here and peace is the greatest dividend to society.'

The Afghanistan head of state said that they were yet to achieve complete peace in his country although the country is currently on a peace-footing. He said, 'We still have terrorist attacks, and added " Sri Lanka was fortunate to have completely ended a destructive conflict with terrorism".

'The most important message that I will be taking back to Afghanistan is that peace is imperative for progress and for all beings. You fortunately have it. People in Sri Lanka would see further progress,' he said.

Afghanistan is currently trying to push negotiations with the Taliban in an attempt to bring peace to the nation and end destruction.

The secret behind him sporting a glowing smile during the nearly one hour interaction with the media was anybody's guess, if he was heartened by the warm hospitality and the rousing welcome given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa or was overjoyed by becoming a father for the third time, was difficult to fathom.

His wife gave birth to his third child, a daughter in India on Tuesday and the Afghan leader visited his wife Zenat, 44 and day- old daughter on his way to Sri Lanka.

The Afghan Leader responded in the negative when asked if he would agree to sign a security pact with the US as proposed. "As soon as the peace process is launched, we will be ready to sign the security agreement but in the absence of a peace process I will not sign a security agreement".

President Karzai was the first head of state from Afghanistan to make a state visit to Sri Lanka. A media interaction was held at Hotel Hilton in Colombo on Thursday where he faced a barrage of questions from media personnel on national and international perspectives on matters, he said "Go ahead and ask me any question, I conduct my own interviews,' the Afghan President was a former Director of Information.

President Karzai arrived in Colombo on Wednesday and was received by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne around 6.30 pm at the Katunayake International Airport.

The visiting leader, though careful with his comments on Sri Lanka and the attempts by the international community to interfere in the domestic reconciliation process said, "I use careful language here, but its for us our countries to make sure that the rights of our citizens are respected, protected and promoted by all means. It is our right to make sure that we remain peaceful." He was responding to a question by the Sunday Observer.

He said Sri Lanka has proved that it is well- poised to address its own issues without the help of external forces.

'The most important message that I will be taking back to Afghanistan is that peace is imperative for progress and for all beings. You fortunately have it. People in Sri Lanka would see further progress.'

"We have daily occurrences of violations of the rights of our people, mainly because of the consequences of the conflict." He said the attitude of the West has also created grounds for violation of the rights of the people of Afghanistan".

The President said he had visited Sri Lanka thrice, the first in 1993 as the Deputy Foreign Minister to attend the funeral of President R. Premadasa, subsequently in 2008 to attend the SAARC summit and this time around on a state visit.

"In 1993, it look us a long time to travel from Airport to the City. In 2008, I was taken in a helicopter. But my delegation took one and a half hour s to reach Colombo by road. Yesterday we came in cars and it took us just 20 minutes or less," he said he was impressed by the development that has taken place since his last visit in 2008. He said it was a beautiful route all the way to Colombo and he could see the peace dividends everywhere he travelled.

Revealing that he did some research into Sri Lanka's record Karzai said,"Your growth rate is nearly 8%, the GDP is impressive, per capita income has risen from from US $900 to US $ 4000 by today".

"Health services, higher education and language policy and countrywide primary education- are the signs of Sri Lanka's progress". He said this is what Afghanistan needed and to know that the Sri Lankan community has done so much on its own was a lesson to be learned. The Afghan leader said coming from a country with a similar background, he could relate well to Sri Lanka's woes, fears, needs and aspirations. He said he wanted Afghanistan to replicate Sri Lanka's peace- story and the impressive strides taken towards development ."

"The reception this morning (Thursday) and at the welcome at the airport yesterday, were magnificent. The graceful Sri Lankan traditional culture was breathtaking. I and my delegation, especially the women were enthralled by the presentation that showcased the refined, beautiful and colourful Sri Lankan culture".

The visiting President said he held in- depth talks with President Rajapaksa whom he consider a friend. A one- on- one discussion was held prior to bi-lateral talks combined with Ministers and officials from both sides.

The talks had involved discussions on issues strategic to the region as well as the two countries.

"If the US really wants to respect human rights, they should help countries like ours to establish peace and stability and an environment where protection of the rights of citizens are guaranteed, where all lives will be preserved," the Afghan leader responded when the issue of the US, Sri Lanka and human rights were raised.

When asked if the US have placed conditions to sign the security pact, and if there is a threat of losing future US funding, he said, "Peace is the most important demand that any society can have, we in Afghanistan have the same demand."

He queried "Would the money you get be of any use if there is no peace or can you use that money for the good of your people".

"We welcome assistance from the West and the US. But that assistance must come to a peaceful society and contribute to the betterment of society. The first demand by the Afghan people is peace and complete stability in the country."

"I have seen the US president, their officials and NATO saying repeatedly that they are in Afghanistan to protect their own security. They are there for themselves, we respect that - that they should have peace, security and stability in all countries. But we too expect them to respect our peace and security in the region.", he said.

Welcoming talks with the Taliban in Pakistan he said only genuine cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan will bring peace to the region. "We are happy that they are talking and we would like to join hands with them to help them in whatever manner we can."

A presidential election is scheduled to be held in Afghanistan in April to elect a new president with President Karzai leaving office after his second term.

"As soon as the new president comes to office in Afghanistan I will have the freedom to visit Sri Lanka as a citizen and a tourist and I will enjoy it very much with my children, my wife and my family. We can go to many places including Kandy and perhaps see the tea plantations,"' he said. The Afghan leader and his delegation left the country on Friday.