US policies responsible for regional instability: Sartaj Aziz

Islamabad: United States' policies are responsible for instability in south Asia, said Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs advisor here on Monday, urging the Obama administration to analyse its role - and that of its allies - in the region.

Aziz said: "Pakistan's answer to instability is the strengthening democracy in the country.

"The US created 'holy warriors' in our tribal areas during the 'Afghan Jihad' and then left them as soon as the war was over, a factor which contributed to decades of instability in Pakistan and the region," Aziz asserted.

Talking about external threats to the country's stability, Dawn quoted Aziz as saying that since 2013, Pakistan has been pursuing a policy of non-interference and is not taking part in other nations' wars.

He said, "We have decided that we are not going to indulge in fighting other countries' wars now, and this policy is being pursued vigorously by the government."

In his last State of the Union address, US President Obama warned: "Instability will continue for decades in many parts of the world - in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in parts of central America, Africa and Asia."

Obama also identified a link between militancy and instability and warned that some unstable regions might become safe havens for terrorists.