"Those who wish to gain influence in Afghanistan, must by now understand that investing in our development and rebuilding our infrastructure, and in contributing to peace and stability can generate enough goodwill in Afghanistan towards them to last a thousand years," Afghan Ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib told a Washington audience.
Regional stability and peace is increasingly every nations need, more than ever before, and that stability begins with Afghanistan, he said in his address to the Hudson Institute - a top American think-tank.
"We have been working with our neighbours to play a positive and constructive role in Afghanistan. The Afghans are a strong, resilient and proud people. A people that despite decades of imposed war, have not been beaten," he said.
In response to a question, later, the Afghan Ambassador said "Pakistan needs to update its policy".
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"It may have been sticking in the past. It's 2016 now. Different time and era from the 1970s and perhaps some of the policies are stuck in the era," Mohib said.
"(It is) Giving us an alternative transit route and increasing Afghanistan's connectivity to the world. This is massively important for our ability to export our goods and import what we need to advance our economic development," he said.
Mohib also mentioned the Afghan-India Friendship Dam which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Herat last week and described it as "a project 40 years in the making that epitomises the deepening relationship between Afghanistan and India".
"To the Taliban: Standing against people's demand of peace will take you nowhere, and the only way left for you is to accept and conform to the desires of the Afghan people.
"To the international community: Afghanistan is a reliable partner, and the best way to control terrorism is to put more pressure on those who use terrorism for political gains. And, finally, a clear message to our neighbours: You should work with us and be part of the future we are striving so hard to realise," he added.