NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (INP) Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai says the U.S’s South Asia policy has been a disappointment as it hasn’t backed it up with action against terrorist safe havens in Pakistan. Hamid Karzai said this in an interview with The Hindu newspaper during his visit to India. Karzai held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted a banquet for him, attended by NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar.   Karzai said he came to New Delhi at the invitation of Narendra Modi and their conversation was an affirmation of India’s affection and goodwill towards Afghanistan. We discussed all issues of relevance in South Asia, including the war against terrorism and extremism, and how best India can cooperate with Afghanistan to achieve peace and lasting stability. Asked how he assess the success of President Donald Trump’s policy, Hamid Karzai said India’s support to President Trump’s policy on Afghanistan, is based on realism. What is important is to see action based on this policy that addresses the place where terrorism emanates from. The U.S policy on Afghanistan must bring salvation to the people of Afghanistan from terrorism that is responsible for their misery. He said the U.S is talking with Pakistan as an ally, and being protective of Pakistan. During my tenure, U.S officials called the Haqqani network the “veritable arm” of ISI. But what has happened? Now too, they pointed fingers at Pakistan and then within months they gave them another $ 750 million in appreciation of their fight against terrorism. We have no ill-will towards U.S, or Pakistan. One is our partner, the other our neighbour. But we all know how U.S and Pakistan came together to fund extremist groups in the 1980s during Soviet times. They have long been bedfellows on this policy.   Karzai said I do want to hold the U.S accountable in Afghanistan and responsible to our sovereignty. They must negotiate a new compact and terms of engagement for their presence in Afghanistan now. This is why I have been calling for the Loya Jirga to be convened, to re-legitimize the U.S presence. The more the U.S opposes this Jirga, the more Afghans will turn away from them. INP/AH ==================