PM lands in Afghanistan, 'Welcome to your second home', says Karzai

[EjazR]

India announces new aid package of $500 mn for Afghanistan - Hindustan Times

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced a fresh Indian aid package of $500 million for Afghanistan with focus on social sector, agriculture, capacity building and infrastructure projects. "We have decided to make a fresh commitment valued at approximately $500 million over the next few years," he said at a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai here after their talks. India already has a commitment of $1.5 billion in Afghanistan.

The new package will consist of specific projects and schemes and other initiatives that will be developed in consultation with the Afghan government, Singh said.

Giving a broad outline, he said India will increase its focus on the social sector, agriculture, capacity building, access to Indian market and continue with its infrastructure projects. Of the new aid package, $100 million will be for the third phase of India's programme of small development projects, over and above the previous pledge of $20 million.

The package will also include donation of 1000 buses for Kabul and other municipalities with provision for maintenance support, training and infrastructure.

 

[EjazR]

India-Afghan elevates ties to strategic level - Hindustan Times

Aiming to strengthen their cooperation in the areas of security and combating terrorism, India and Afghanistan today elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, which they affirmed was not directed against any other State or group of States. After the "productive and constructive" discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Hamid Karzai which covered issues like terrorism, recent developments in the region especially last week's killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in Pakistan, both the leaders issued a joint declaration.

"The two sides affirmed that their Strategic Partnership was not directed against any other State or group of States," the declaration said. They also underlined their shared commitment to combating terrorism that threatens both countries as well as the region and the world as a whole.

"The two sides also agreed that an important part of their Strategic Partnership would be cooperation in the area of security, law enforcement and justice, including an enhanced focus on cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, organised crime, and illegal trafficking in narcotics, and money-laundering," the declaration said. Agreeing to impart a long term commitment to their multifaceted bilateral ties and to actively develop them in the years ahead, India and Afghanistan confirmed their adherence to the common ideals of peace, democracy, inclusive development, rule of law, non-violence, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The declaration said that the Strategic Partnership between the two countries is based upon the principles of sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in their internal affairs, mutual respect and mutual benefit. The two leaders shared their vision of Afghanistan as an independent, democratic, stable and prosperous country Reaffirming their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, India and Afghanistan decided to establish a Strategic Partnership covering all areas of mutual interest.

Based on mutual understanding and long term trust in each other, this partnership envisages the elevation of their multifaceted ties to a higher level, both in the bilateral field and in the international arena. The two sides decided to hold follow up discussions in the near future towards preparation of a Strategic Partnership document between the two countries which will be implemented under the framework of a Partnership Council.

 

[Developereo]

It was more like a proxy war with Pakistan and Iran as the main players. India played only a supporting role. Other countries on the Pakistani side were the Saudis and the US. While Iran along with India Russia and the Central Asian states backed the Northern Alliance

So to correct some common myths
(1) Northern Alliance was supported predominantly by China and the Central Asian states with support from India in terms of medical teams e.t.c.

Sure thing. If India wants to push its revisionist version of history and distance themselves from their past failure, no worries...

(2) Afghanistan has historically had good ties with India, Pashtuns included. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan or Badshah Khan is even today a revered figure in India for his non-violent struggle for freedom. A person who was so revered by even the Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan that when he was taken to Jalalabad for his funeral and to be buried there, all militant groups adhered to a ceasefire for 3 days out of respect. The rule of Taliban for the 6-8 years there was an anomaly in Afghan history and will most likely stay that way.

That is correct. Afghan governments have been anti-Pakistan through most of their history because of their obsession with the Durand Line. The sooner Afghanistan accepts the international border and normalizes relations with Pakistan, instead of letting India exploit the situation, the better it will be for all concerned.

Even Taliban commanders are sending feelers to reconcile with India and one of the reasons why PM Singh has mentioned about India's approval for integrating Taliban under the Afghan govt. reconciliation scheme.

Righty ho! More accurately, India sees the writing on the wall and is trying to salvage something out of the inevitable. The Taliban will play along, since they welcome all international support.

 

[Dalai Lama]

Well the Indians are busy managing your country thats why its a bad idea
With the withdrawel date fixed, millions of $$$ spent every month on ANSF, we won't need foreign military presence.I'm confident ANSF will inshahallah come true on their promise of a stable and strong Afghanistan.

...And when that happens, we can talk business.

 

[Developereo]

NATO stepped in for different reasons and it installed pro-Western, pro-democracy, anti-militia government. Now the same government also happened to be pro-India, pro-China, pro-Russia, pretty much pro everyone (except Pakistan) who wants to come and do business in Afghanistan and help Afghanistan stand on its own feet. Yes agree India is not saint and not doing charity work in Afghanistan. India is just taking advantage of the conducive environment in the country and in return is helping in the development of the country in whatever way it can.

If you think the current Afghan government is pro-democracy and anti-militia, you need to look again. It's basically the Northern Alliance plus a few drug lords in suits. As for being pro-everything you claim, that's ridiculous. They are not even pro-Afghanistan, never mind the foreign countries. India is finding comfort right now because of their erstwhile contacts in the Northern Alliance, plus Karzai will say whatever is convenient at the moment, but all this advantage-India will evaporate once NATO leaves.

Given what Pakistan did with Afghanistan after the Soviets retreated do you really blame the Afghans for siding with India? Even now Pakistan is not helping the Afghans in getting rid of this violent menace, instead it is still hoping that one day NATO forces will leave and Taliban can come back to power. Pakistan messed up in Afghanistan, the sooner Pakistan realizes that the better it is for Afghan-Pak relationship.

Just because the Indians keep repeating revisionist history to downplay their role in the Afghan civil war will not change the facts. India was just as guilty as everyone else in the bloody conflict after the Soviet withdrawal. It's just that your side lost and had to be propped up by NATO.

Besides I don't see why Afghan government can't be both pro-India and pro-Pakistan at the same time. Just my 2 cents.

If they can reconcile themselves with the Durand line and stop working with India to foment trouble in Baluchistan, then yes, Pakistan has no problems.

 

[Durran3]

The Taliban-Northern Alliance war was a proxy war between Pakistan and India. It's one of those open secrets.

The weird part is that, after the Soviet withdrawal, Northern Alliance first approached Pakistan, but were rebuffed, and then they went to India. Pakistan could have helped negotiate peace between the various groups. Opportunity lost.

Sad part of reality... Northern Alliance apparently weren't no angels either they were just lesser of the two evils but still I believe Afghanistan would have been slightly better off under Ahmad Shah Masood.

 

[harpoon]

If you think the current Afghan government is pro-democracy and anti-militia, you need to look again. It's basically the Northern Alliance plus a few drug lords in suits. As for being pro-everything you claim, that's ridiculous. They are not even pro-Afghanistan, never mind the foreign countries. India is finding comfort right now because of their erstwhile contacts in the Northern Alliance, plus Karzai will say whatever is convenient at the moment, but all this advantage-India will evaporate once NATO leaves.

We have no illusion about the credibility of the present Govt in Afghanisthan. We are supporting the the lesser evil.

If they can reconcile themselves with the Durand line and stop working with India to foment trouble in Baluchistan, then yes, Pakistan has no problems.

The problem is that you will not stop until your Army's grand vision of " Strategic Depth" is achieved even if that meant creating another Taliban and create further bloodshed in Afghanisthan. Even Gen. Kiyani is said to be a great fan of this Strategy.