ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Pakistan today that his country did not want to become a battle ground for proxy wars between India, Pakistan, Iran and the United States. India and Pakistan, implacable South Asian rivals, have struggled for influence in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban regime and implanted Karzai’s Western-backed government. Arch-foes Iran and the United States have also traded accusations of double dealing over the conflict in Afghanistan, where a Taliban insurgency against US and NATO-led troops is now into a ninth year. “We in Afghanistan are fully aware and recognise that without Pakistan and without its cooperation with Afghanistan, Afghanistan cannot be stable or peaceful,” Karzai told a news conference after talks with Pakistani leaders. “It is also, I believe, recognised in Pakistan that without a stable and peaceful Afghanistan there cannot be stability or peace in Pakistan,” he said. “Afghanistan does not want any proxy wars on its territory. It does not want a proxy war between India and Pakistan on Afghanistan. “It does not want a proxy war between Iran and the United States on Afghanistan. It does not want any country... to engage in any activity against another country in Afghanistan,” he added.