 "Afghanistan's Karzai hails Rajapaksa for peace in Sri Lanka")
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has hailed his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa for achieving peace in the country after decades long civil war against LTTE rebels.
"No matter how the world community puts it, we know that peace in a country is the best guarantor of human rights," Karzai was quoted as saying to Rajapaksa by the Sri Lankan president's office.
"War is the worst enemy of human rights. Peace is the vehicle for human growth and prosperity. We have seen that in Sri Lanka and we congratulate you."
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His comments came days after a US-led resolution has been tabled at the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka over its alleged rights abuses during the war with Tamil Tiger rebels.
Up to 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed at the end of the separatist war in 2009, according to rights groups and some UN experts.
Karzai, who arrived here yesterday on a 3-day visit, held bilateral talks with Rajapaksa. Karzai last month cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka after Taliban killed 20 soldiers.
Five senior ministers were accompanying the Afghan leader.
This is Karzai's third visit to Sri Lanka.