Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Kabul was more significant that his earlier one owing to four main factors. One, it came immediately after the killing of Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan’s garrison town Abbottabad, leading to strained relations between the US and its “key ally” in the war on terror. Two, the international community has expressed its readiness to encourage Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to induct in his government the Taliban factions (the good Taliban) willing to give up the path of violence as advocated by last year’s 60-nation London conference. Three, there is new willingness to allow India to play a more significant role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan in view of Pakistan having been exposed as an undependable nation in the fight against global terrorism. Four, India cannot afford to ignore the fact of China increasing its presence in Afghanistan, which may ultimately benefit Pakistan.
Yet, Dr Manmohan Singh avoided targeting Pakistan while expressing his views on the need for the countries in the region to work together to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. He also made it clear that there was no likelihood of India undertaking a US-style exercise to flush out the terrorists in Pakistan on India’s wanted list. He reiterated India’s assurance to Afghanistan to help it in all possible ways to rebuild its infrastructure. Kabul will now get another $500 million development assistance from India, taking New Delhi’s aid to Kabul to $2 billion. India has no intention of involving itself militarily in Afghanistan. It will, however, continue to train the Afghan police, as desired by the Karzai government.
What is more significant than all this is that India is ready to accept the reality of the “good” Taliban as part of the government in Kabul. This is a clear policy shift, but unavoidable under the circumstances. This may help blunt the Pakistani propaganda that India is opposed to any reconciliation effort to normalise the situation in Afghanistan. In fact, it is difficult to go against the international view that the Taliban movement can be weakened by dividing it and then taking on the hardcore groups head on. What is also needed is a drive to ensure that there is no outside intervention (from Pakistan) in the affairs of Afghanistan.
