There Can Be No Question Of Territorial Division -- Afghanistan's Leadership

The leadership of Afghanistan believes that there can be no question of a territorial division of Afghanistan, first secretary of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Moscow Ghulam Ghairat Sakhi said Thursday. He commented on foreign media reports on a possibility of forming in northern Afghanistan a government that will be parallel to the Taliban government and introducing a peacekeeping contingent in Eastern Timor. Consultations on the matter are reported to be held by the United Nations secretary general's special representative Lakhdar Brahimi. The leadership of the Islamic State of Afghanistan stands up for the independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Afghanistan, stressed Ghairat. "We see roads towards that in ensuring national unity and in an active quest for it today is under way," he said. As to Pakistan's stance on the Afghan problem, "Islamabad is conducting a double-standard policy," said the Afghan diplomat. "On the one hand, Pakistan finds it impossible to close the border for preventing thousands of volunteers to help Taliban from penetrating into Afghanistan. One the other hand, the Pakistani authorities are not allowing Afghan refugees into their territory". "In our estimate, Pakistan has received from the United States 75 million dollars to strengthen the Pakistani-Afghan border. This sum is enough to close the border for Pakistani volunteers," said Ghairat.