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Insisting that peace in Afghanistan is crucial for regional stability, Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has spoken about Afghanistan’s changing strategic landscape, with regional powers forging new links and trying to outdo each other in what’s being seen as a new âÂÂGreat GameâÂÂ.

Dr Abdali was delivering a talk on âÂÂAfghanistan at the Crossroads: Implications for Regional Securityâ at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on Monday.  Terming Afghanistan as a lynchpin to regional stability owing to its geographic location, Dr Abdali said that Afghanistan should be mainstreamed into regional economic cooperation to bring about peace and security in Afghanistan and consequently in the subcontinent. The shifting regional alliances should avoid competition and promote a more inclusive approach towards stabilising Afghanistan and its neighbourhood, added Dr Abdali.

The global shift to multi-polarity and multilateralism can be an opportunity for Afghanistan as relationships with some regional powers that did not work earlier can now be aligned in a manner that can prove to be a win-win situation for all, added the ambassador.

Welcoming US President Donald TrumpâÂÂs recent statement on his countryâÂÂs resolve to eradicate radical forces, Dr Abdali said that this is the only way to combat terrorism. He hoped that the US government adopts this policy while engaging with the countries in the region.

Insisting that Afghanistan has long been suffering in the hands of global and regional players, Dr Abdali, called for the need for regional powers to interact with each other in a manner that would bring a positive change in the region.”