Afghanistan Needs To Tackle Terrorism To Benefit From Regional Projects - Pakistani Envoy

ST. PETERSBURG (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2021) Afghanistan will be able to profit from regional infrastructure projects, such as Pakistan's economic corridor with China, once it reins in terrorism, the Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, told Sputnik.

The diplomat said that Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 1,600 mile-long border, providing enormous opportunities for connectivity. He added that Afghanistan should become a hub for linking Central Asia, Russia and South Asian ports.

"These infrastructure projects can be linked through the Afghan soil to the Asian countries, there are major pipeline projects. We hope that Afghanistan will make full use of this opportunity and translate it into a big economic opportunity. This, however, will depend on how the country will be dealing with the threats of terrorism," he said in an interview.

The ambassador praised the Taliban-run government for establishing what he described as a "good environment of security," but he stressed that more should be done to reopen the country to foreign investors.

The Taliban have been under pressure to curb al-Qaeda and Islamic State (all three banned in Russia as terrorist groups) since the militancy swept to power last month and formed an interim government. An� Islamic State affiliate bombed Kabul's airport gate at the close of the foreign withdrawal, killing American service personnel and Afghan civilians.