Pakistan is behind empowering Taliban: Afghanistan singer Aryana Sayeed
Kabul: Afghani pop star Aryana Sayeed, who escaped from her nation after Taliban overran Kabul on Aug 15, blamed Pakistan for empowering the insurgent group.
"I do blame Pakistan. Over the years, we have seen videos, seen evidence that Pakistan is behind empowering the Taliban," she told ANI news agency.
"Every time our government touches the Taliban they see identification and it would see a Pakistani person, so it's very obvious that I blame them and hope that they back off and don't interfere in politics in Afghanistan anymore," she said.
She claimed that Taliban members are instructed and even trained by Pakistan.
"They are being instructed by Pakistan, their bases are in Pakistan where they get their training. I hope the international community, first of all, cut off their funds and don't offer funds to Pakistan for funding the Taliban," said Sayeed.
She urged the international community to bring peace in Afghanistan.
"I hope they can put pressure on Pakistan. I believe that we're dealing with all these issues in Afghanistan because of Pakistan," she added.
Calling India a 'true friend', she appreciated India for its efforts in Afghanistan.
"India has always been good to us. They have been a true friend, they've been very helpful and kind to our people, even refugees. Afghans who have been in India before have always spoken highly of the nation, its people. We are grateful to India," she said.
"On behalf of Afghanistan, I want to express my utmost gratitude to India and I want to say thank you. Over the years we've realised that the only good friend in the neighborhood we have is, India," she told ANI.
Breaking all taboos and Taliban diktat that women cannot enter a stadium, Sayeed performed at a stadium without wearing a hijab in 2015.
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