US seal on India’s key role in rebuilding Afghanistan.

[SR 71 Blackbird]

US seal on India’s key role in rebuilding Afghanistan.
TNN | Oct 20, 2012, 08.40PM IST
Article

NEW DELHI: India built the Zaranj-Delaram road connecting Afghanistan to Iran in 2008. Four years later, India is being courted to replicate the successful project to connect Afghanistan to its other Central Asian neighbours like Turkmenistan, Tajikistan etc.

India is returning to centerstage in Afghanistan. Two years after being relegated to the sidelines, India is clawing her way back to relevance.

As the US prepares to draw down in Afghanistan, India is emerging as Afghanistan's key ally. The tide turned decisively with the first trilateral meeting between Afghanistan, India and US in New York last week. Jawed Ludin, Afghanistan's deputy foreign minister, led the proceedings. For the first time, Indian, US and Afghan officials sat together to discuss Afghanistan's future. The meetings, held at the Afghan mission in New York, were under the radar and didn't attract the attention of Pakistan, which is wary of the trilateral arrangement.

In an unpublicized statement that laid out the contours of the cooperation, Ludin said the trilateral "marks the beginning of a series of consultations among our three governments... who have pledged to work together on common challenges and opportunities including combating terrorism and violent extremism... increasing regional trade, investment and integration."

Indian and US officials agree that continuing to help Afghanistan's economic development is a top priority. The first area, where all three would be working together, would be in mineral resources — an Indian consortium secured the Hajigak mines' exploration, and Indian firms are looking at getting more mineral rights. Equally, India would be looking for US' technical help in these ventures. The second sector will be in connectivity — all three nations are investing in creating roads and rail networks to embed Afghanistan in the regional trade and transit networks. India and the US believe this is the way to save Afghanistan from becoming a haven for extremism.

The trilateral, say sources, is a testimony to the roots that India has struck in Afghanistan over the past decade. Significantly, it shows the distance the US has traveled on the ******* front. Not so long ago, US officials preferred to ignore India's work in Afghanistan as they talked up Pakistan's importance. Pakistan's rants about Indian consulates prompted much US questioning of New Delhi's intentions there, and there was general rejection of any suggestion to have an Indian presence in the security sector.

India laboured on solitarily, because in the policy establishment in New Delhi, there was a conviction that Afghanistan's stability is crucial to national security. India's economic and development programmes have yielded rich dividends. Hamid Karzai, regularly vilified by the West for being corrupt and venal, has received unqualified support from India. It wasn't a coincidence that the first strategic partnership agreement was signed with India, with others following afterwards. But as Pakistan's relations with the US have dived, and its connections with the Haqqani Network are there for all to see, the US heeded Afghan insistence and turned to India. After getting the contract to develop the Hajigak iron ore mines, a consortium of Indian companies is hoping to win a bid to mine copper and gold in the country.

The trilateral plans also point to something else — the US is not going to uproot its presence from Afghanistan any time soon. They will dominate the security sector, not merely to degrade Taliban but to try to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven of terrorists again. William Burns, US Deputy Secretary of State, told TOI, "The US commitment to stability in Afghanistan doesn't end in 2014. We all learned from the mistakes that followed the Soviet exit from Afghanistan. That's exactly why the US entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Afghanistan similar to the Strategic Partnership Agreement which India has entered into with Afghanistan."

US seal on India’s key role in rebuilding Afghanistan - The Times of India

 

[Abingdonboy]

This is a nice read. India does not get enough attention and prase for its work in Afghanistan. And with upwards of $2TN USD in natural resources in Afghanistan India could make plenty of $$$ in this area.

 

[ajtr]

Those who hvae guns in Afghanistan controls it ie Taliban and india cant do anything without taliban's nod their after usa leaves and to get taliban's nod india has to put petition at GHQ RWP.

 

[surya kiran]

Those who hvae guns in Afghanistan controls it ie Taliban and india cant do anything without taliban's nod their after usa leaves and to get taliban's nod india has to put petition at GHQ RWP.

As of now GHQ RWP needs to put petition to Taliban to not attack them

 

[surya kiran]

We should support the Afghans with economic and civil reconstruction. Build their roads, railways, schools and hospitals. Provide an infrastructure support which can used by the Afghans to better themselves and become self sufficient over a period of time.

Provide support, short of sending troops, to all possible requirements of the Afghan government. A stable Afghanistan is in the long term interests of India.

 

[KRAIT]

Most important is security of our mines and transport network. Afghans will welcome these projects as it will create jobs and an alternate, peaceful life with much promise and brighter future for present and coming generations.

As mentioned in other thread where Pakistanis are looking for jobs in Afghanistan, it will be good for Pakistan too. Jobs generated will help Pakistan's economy too and this trilateral arrangement will have fourth dimension soon with Pakistan's economic interest in this region along with China's heavy investment.

So I don't think Pakistan will let this opportunity go to work with all the interested members and nations to gain the max out of it. People may be skeptical but one has to keep in mind that Pakistan also need stable and economically developing Afghanistan to get rid of anti-Pakistani elements. Alternate source of income weeds out the basic root of extremism which is mostly poverty and unemployment.

Just hope that Pakistan's Foreign Policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan is in sync with other nations in the region. They will be the most beneficial ones too.

 

[ironman1]

Those who hvae guns in Afghanistan controls it ie Taliban and india cant do anything without taliban's nod their after usa leaves and to get taliban's nod india has to put petition at GHQ RWP.

oh how glad you are at the mention of name "taliban" . and you wonder why your pakistani husband is called a terrorist ! i have no idea, do you? you may even be glad at the attempted killing of MALALA . some woman you are !

 

[ironman1]

Most important is security of our mines and transport network. Afghans will welcome these projects as it will create jobs and an alternate, peaceful life with much promise and brighter future for present and coming generations.

As mentioned in other thread where Pakistanis are looking for jobs in Afghanistan, it will be good for Pakistan too. Jobs generated will help Pakistan's economy too and this trilateral arrangement will have fourth dimension soon with Pakistan's economic interest in this region along with China's heavy investment.

So I don't think Pakistan will let this opportunity go to work with all the interested members and nations to gain the max out of it. People may be skeptical but one has to keep in mind that Pakistan also need stable and economically developing Afghanistan to get rid of anti-Pakistani elements. Alternate source of income weeds out the basic root of extremism which is mostly poverty and unemployment.

Just hope that Pakistan's Foreign Policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan is in sync with other nations in the region. They will be the most beneficial ones too.

we can't expect any long term view from pakistan on the matter ! we'll be sorely dissapointed if we think pakistan's millitary leadership will want to let afghan be developing gradually . a weak afghanistan is beneficial to them . also they have only very weak control of millitancy they have sown .

 

[Abingdonboy]

Those who hvae guns in Afghanistan controls it ie Taliban and india cant do anything without taliban's nod their after usa leaves and to get taliban's nod india has to put petition at GHQ RWP.

So is his he official GoP stance? Because they infatically deny any links between them and the Taliban today as do most Pakostani members here on PDF. And anyway I think he Pakistanis have done enough to annoy the Taliban and Afgans so that any positive feeling is now gone.

India is one of if not the most liked nation by Afghan population.

 

[KRAIT]

we can't expect any long term view from pakistan on the matter ! we'll be sorely dissapointed if we think pakistan's millitary leadership will want to let afghan be developing gradually . a weak afghanistan is beneficial to them . also they have only very weak control of millitancy they have sown .

If they try to do so, it will isolate them and even China with its Ayanak mine of copper, needs stable Afghanistan. So Pakistan will atleast try for their all weather friend to get the max out of the region and its resources. Pakistan has too much to gain. Failing to do so will be a blunder.

BTW they have already issued $ 500 million to Afghanistan so currently Pakistan will swim with the tide. But if they go against it, considering their economic and social condition and chances of sanctions after 2014 pullout, they might land up in big trouble. Having said that they know what's best for them and at this moment and coming couple of years, they will do what everyone wants, i.e. help in development of Afghanistan.

 

[jabalultariq]

Were there any security issues in 2008 when India built the Zaranj-Delaram road ? I know Chineese built Indus Highway connecting Northern Pakistan to Gwador under similar security issues from militants

 

[Abingdonboy]

Were there any security issues in 2008 when India built the Zaranj-Delaram road ? I know Chineese built Indus Highway connecting Northern Pakistan to Gwador under similar security issues from militants

What kind of question is this? Of course there were security concerns especially with the Indian factor and that we know the ISI have specifically targeted Indians in Afghanistan in the past

 

[Edevelop]

We all know that Karzai (a puppet) has links with India as he has lived there for quite a few years. The point is, the government maybe allied, but not the Afghan people themselves. The majority that makes up their population is Pashtuns, the same ethnics that are in Pakistan. If one can say that if over 1 million Afghan refugees can go to Pakistan, they might as well be like Pakistanis. For now India is enjoying its time, as soon as NATO withdraws, there is no time to think about staying. Pakistan, which is a neighbour of Afghanistan has experienced a whole lot. When ISI can make U.S soldiers poop in their pants, India will be too easy to deal with. (Hint, Taliban is still alive.) Also may i remind everyone that China is Pakistan's ally. It already has played a role there. If they are looking to go in there to do build more infrastructure to counter India, Pakistan will be more than happy to give access.

 

[Armstrong]

If they try to do so, it will isolate them and even China with its Ayanak mine of copper, needs stable Afghanistan. So Pakistan will atleast try for their all weather friend to get the max out of the region and its resources. Pakistan has too much to gain. Failing to do so will be a blunder.

BTW they have already issued $ 500 million to Afghanistan so currently Pakistan will swim with the tide. But if they go against it, considering their economic and social condition and chances of sanctions after 2014 pullout, they might land up in big trouble. Having said that they know what's best for them and at this moment and coming couple of years, they will do what everyone wants, i.e. help in development of Afghanistan.

Khocha why do you think we're not targeting the Taliban as it is ? We're not endeared to them nor them to us especially they way things panned out for the both of us before the Invasion. We'd support them (or not oppose them) for the same reason we supported them after the Soviet War - Stability ! We don't want a drug infested Afghanistan with local warlords prancing about with their own personal armies. We'd very much prefer a stable & developing Afghanistan so that the refugees (an incalculable burden on our economy & possibly detrimental to the social fabric of our Pashtun belt) should pack & leave for a good future in their own country & that a resurgent economy in Afghanistan would increase demand for our exports to them benefits us. However that said - the Nation building has failed big-time & Karzai has as much legitimacy & capability to see Afghanistan through into something that benefits both the Afghans & Pakistanis, as my right nut does ! *Perhaps even less because a Casanovan nut gives me exceptional bragging rights *.

So we'd rather see a Taliban controlled Afghanistan then an Afghanistan which falls apart...again ! Thats all our contention...otherwise with the US gone...Afghanistan can pose as much a threat to Pakistan as your fart to a Skunk in a stinking competition.

 

[ironman1]

We all know that Karzai (a puppet) has links with India as he has lived there for quite a few years. The point is, the government maybe allied, but not the Afghan people themselves. The majority that makes up their population is Pashtuns, the same ethnics that are in Pakistan. If one can say that if over 1 million Afghan refugees can go to Pakistan, they might as well be like Pakistanis. For now India is enjoying its time, as soon as NATO withdraws, there is no time to think about staying. Pakistan, which is a neighbour of Afghanistan has experienced a whole lot. When ISI can make U.S soldiers poop in their pants, India will be too easy to deal with. (Hint, Taliban is still alive.) Also may i remind everyone that China is Pakistan's ally. It already has played a role there. If they are looking to go in there to do build more infrastructure to counter India, Pakistan will be more than happy to give access.

umm the same "taliban" that attacked kamra airbase and your naval airwing. you must be so proud !!