‘Spoilers’ in Afghan talks: Pakistan NSA in veiled dig at India

Pakistan NSA accuses regional ‘spoilers’ of trying to derail Afghan peace process in a thinly veiled dig at rival India.

Pakistan’s national security adviser has criticised regional “spoilers” who he accuses of attempting to derail the Afghan peace process, while condemning “state terrorism against people under illegal occupation”, a thinly veiled dig at eastern neighbour and longtime rival, India. Speaking at a meeting of national security advisers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on Wednesday, Moeed Yusuf said achieving peace in Afghanistan was the region’s most immediate priority. “Failure to attain peace in Afghanistan [is] the most immediate challenge facing [the] SCO today,” a statement issued by Yusuf’s office quoted him as telling the meeting of NSAs from eight countries, including India, Russia and China.