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Kabul sees positive effect

KABUL: The U.S.-backed Afghan government welcomed Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s resignation Monday, saying he “was not someone good for Afghanistan” and his departure will have a positive effect on the region.

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency of being behind an April assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai and the July bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which killed more than 60 people. Mr. Karzai’s spokesman Humayun Hamidzada reiterated a standing Afghan government demand that Pakistan’s military intelligence service cease its activities in Afghanistan.

Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said General Musharraf was an ally of the U.S. only in name. He said Afghanistan wanted a Pakistani President that pursues peace by his actions, and not only through words. General Musharraf “was not someone good for Afghanistan,” said Mr. Bashary. “We hope that someone good will replace him.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmed Baheen said Afghanistan is hopeful General Musharraf’s move would strengthen democracy in the two countries. — AP

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