New Delhi: Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said that Pakistan leadership at every level, during the bilateral meetings, had demanded that India reduce its presence and aid projects in the landlocked country.
“Demands were made at every leadership level. It was raised regularly and it was raised throughout my tenure,” Karzai was quoted as saying in a report published in The Hindu.
The Afghan leader, however, refused to name the leaders who made the specific demands to him when he was the President.
Karzai further said that despite repeated demand by Pakistan, his government sturdily refused to heed their words.
“Demand came from Pakistan to tell India to reduce its presence and we said no to them,” he said.
India has granted aid worth two billion dollars and provides civil and military training to Afghanistan. Several Indian companies are presently involved in reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.
