India Develops Solid Footprints in Afghanistan

In a recent agreement between India and Afghanistan where India has agreed to train Afghan security forces, this move has added one more significant dimension to Indo-Afghan relations. During the past decade, India has taken multiple initiatives to strengthen its relation with Afghanistan.

It all started with toppling of Taliban regime in 2001 by the US-led international coalition forces, when India moved swiftly to make its presence felt in Afghanistan. Taliban which were reportedly harboring the alleged 9/11 perpetrators and Al- Qaeda chief Osama bin-Laden, had to pay the heaviest price by being overthrown by the coalition forces.

Prior to 9/11 events, Taliban did not have a warm relation with India when in power as they were allegedly backed by Pakistan, the arch-enemy of India. With the capture of Kabul in 1996 by Taliban, the Indian government led by prime minster H.D Deve Gowda did not officially recognize the regime of Taliban. In fact India, along with Iran and Russia were strong supporters of Northern Alliance, a multi-ethnic anti-Taliban force based in north of Afghanistan. The Indian Embassy in Kabul hardly functioned during the reign of Taliban 1996 - 2001.

Events changed dramatically in favor of India in post-Taliban as the members of Northern Alliance, the old-time ally of India, got the lion's share of power in Kabul in Bonn Conference on future of Afghanistan held in Germany in 2001. Pakistan, India's arch-rival stood as a weak and helpless bystander of events by having a limited say with ouster of its ally, Taliban. Delhi government led by BJP was in full swing to take maximum political mileage by announcing generous financial and technical aid to the Afghan government.

Shift in India's strategy

With new and somewhat pro-India dispensation in Kabul, India shifted its strategy towards Afghanistan. The help that it was giving to anti-Taliban forces in the form arms and military equipments were channeled to the central government led by Hamid Karzai, in the shape of technical support and capacity building of human resources, with main focus on overall development and infrastructure of the country. The earlier donation of airplanes by India to the crippled Afghan Aviation sector and the announcement of scholarships for Afghan students were the most noted ones.

Gradually, India concentrated more on infrastructure and monetary help to the country. The roads between Kandahar province and Spin Boldak district and Zaranj - Delaram highway were built by India. According to The Hindu, in undertaking of these projects, Indian engineers had to face constant threat from the insurgents groups with the loss of life of an Indian engineer in the process. The construction of new Afghan parliament in Kabul by India is in progress and the construction of a water dam in Herat province is near complete. The momentary help of India has been on the rise and to date it has pledged $ 1.3 billion for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, The Hindu adds.

With increasing influence of India in Afghanistan in post-Talban, Pakistan has also been active in its development activity in Afghanistan. The move, however, has aroused suspicions among Afghan people and authorities. In April 2009, on the condition of anonymity, one former high-ranking Afghan official revealed to the Journal of International Affairs, an American journal that Afghanistan was wary of Pakistani aid due to past indiscretions and meddling with its affairs. In other words, Kabul turned a suspicious eye toward aid from Islamabad due to its past support for the Taliban. This is in part due to ongoing disputes over the Durand Line, which have never been resolved between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a debate that centers on the fate of the predominantly Pashtun tribes along the border. In the words of Barnett Rubin and Abubakar Siddique, "The long history of each state offering sanctuary to the other's opponents has built bitterness and mistrust between the two neighbors", the Journal quoted them as saying.

The future of the relation

According to Indian magazine, Tehelka, the Afghan-Indo relations is a win-win partnership as it is based on solid foundation and trust. The relation further got a shot in the arm with the signing of Strategic Agreement between the two countries in October 2011, and this means they have become strategic partners. India which is experiencing an impressive economic growth for the quite some time is eager to strengthen its economic ties with Afghanistan. The natural resources of Aghansitan are huge and untapped which makes it ideal arena of investment for Indian companies. On top of this, the location of the country could be the more important focus for India as it is a passageway to Central Asian countries. Through Afghanistan, India can reach the Central Asian markets for its goods and products and at the same time access the enormous energy of the region for its energy-hungry industries, the magazine argues.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is worried about the growing influence of India in Afghanistan. Its main contention is using of the country by India for anti-Pakistan activities. The unrest in Baluchistan which is blamed on India and the growing numbers of Indian consulates in several parts of Afghanistan are cited as proof by Pakistan. The Express Tribune, a Pakistani daily, in October 2011, quoted Inspector General Frontier Corps of Baluchistan Major General Obaidullah Khattak, that India was using Afghan territory to carry out terrorist attacks in Baluchistan. "There is evidence that Afghanistan is being used against Pakistan," the paper quoted Khattak.

The daily also quoted Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf that India sought to create an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan as part of a bid to dominate South Asia politically and economically.

India which faces hostile Taliban targeting its interests in Afghanistan has also blamed Pakistan for carrying out anti-India activities by using its proxies there. The bombing of Indian Embassy in July 2008 was blamed on Pakistan's intelligence Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan, however, denied that it had any role in it.

The blame game between Pakistan and India will certainly go on. Whether it is mere rhetoric used by both or they have solid evidence to prove their accusations is yet to be seen. But one thing is for sure, India is in Afghanistan to stay.

Afghans' concern

The Afghans are watching both India and Pakistan. They welcome the contribution of both for the reconstruction and development of their county. But they don't like is that their country to become the battlefield for India and Pakistan to settle scores. And this has been the official stance of the Afghan government.

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Peace Looks Elusive in Afghanistan

Since the US and NATO troops' withdrawal in 2014 is certain, are the Afghan security forces ready to take the security responsibility of Afghanistan in post 2014? Well, according to their Western trainers and mentors they should be. However, Afghan people are not that sure. The continued attacks by the Taliban inside the country sometime resulting in heavy civilian casualties, the increasing presence of rogue elements in the forces, widespread corruption and nepotism in the ranks of Afghan security forces do not paint good picture of them.

For the successful US and NATO withdrawal, the preparedness and strength of the Afghan security forces are crucial. Because security vacuum after the withdrawal must be fill by domestic forces. So the role of Afghan security forces in the aftermath of 2014 is paramount. The prospect of peace has been slim from the moment Afghan President Karzai announced the pursuit of reconciliation with the Taliban. Each peace effort by Karzai and his team has met failure; whether it is presidential amnesty of Taliban or getting the names its members removed from the UN blacklist. But Taliban has not been impressed.

To make matters worse, a lot of parties and regional players mainly neighboring countries are involved in Afghanistan's conflict. Pakistan, Afghanistan's western neighbor, fears India might use the country as a hub against it by interfering in Baluchistan. India on its part, believes that the revival of extremist elements like Taliban by Pakistan means infiltration these groups into Jammu and Kashmir. Iran, eastern neighbor of Afghanistan wants the US to get bogged down in the country so that finally its resources is drained out. And finally there is an insurgent group of Taliban, supported by Haqqani Network, which is determined to fight till the end to get rid of foreign forces. This group is the main player with its backers, particularly Pakistan. This group, it seems, is unwilling to talk and engage with the US and its allies because it considers them occupiers.

Pakistan is Facilitator of Peace

Recent reports in Long War Journal, American news website suggest of a rift between Taliban ranks regarding peace talks with the US and Afghan Central government. Some so called 'moderate Taliban' led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, second in command in Taliban ranks, are in favor of peace and reconciliation. According to BBC report, Baradar had even secret contacts with former UN envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide on peace. On the other hand, the so called 'bad Taliban' are stick to their guns setting the precondition that the foreign forces should leave Afghanistan first then talks could begin.

Afghan analysts like MP and member of Security Commission of Afghan Parliament Muhammad Naeem Lali Hameedzai, believe that the Taliban are actually controlled by Pakistani intelligence Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), which means that Taliban cannot decide on their own to initiate peace talks with the US and Afghan government. In a report in Long Wall Journal, in April he said that the Barg-i-Matal and Kamdesh districts of Nuristan province were influenced by Taliban militants and had the financial and military support of ISI. But Pakistan is denying such claim and maintains that a prosperous and secure Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and it is the facilitator of peace. Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq said things had changed in recent years over "our role despite certain misperceptions" in interview in July with The Express Tribune, Pakistani daily. He told The Express Tribune that Islamabad was willing to bury the past and is looking forward to working with all Afghan groups. "The very idea of shifting our embassy in an area populated by Uzbeks and Tajiks is to send out a clear message that we have no favorites in Afghanistan," he claimed.

The role of Pakistan has even been acknowledged by Afghan opposition groups. Talking to a Pakistan newspaper, The Express Tribune, in July former vice president and now an opposition figure Ahmed Zia Massoud said efforts to reach out to the Taliban would remain futile unless Pakistan is part of the process. "The Americans can't do it, it is only Pakistan which can persuade the Taliban and the Haqqanis to come to the negotiating table," he said. He heads the main opposition alliance called the Afghan National Front (ANF). So, Pakistan holds the key to any kind of peace settlement in war-torn country.

'Strategic Depth'

Pakistan is looking for 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan and any negotiation must have its backing. That is the reason that Taliban is used as a proxy and bargaining chip to have a weak and pro-Pakistan government in Kabul. In other words, a government that should that should not discuss the 'Durand Line' issue and be hostile towards India. This means controlling of the events in Afghanistan by Pakistan.

The fact that the Afghan war has become lengthy and expensive and public support for the war in the US and West is slipping, have added more confusion and uncertainty about the campaign. On the other hand, the Taliban is gaining ground everyday and launching regular attacks on US and Afghan forces.

The rise in civilian casualty which is due to lack of coordination between ill-equipped and under-trained Afghan forces and NATO on one hand, and the rampant corruption in the Afghan security forces on the other, has created considerable doubt about among Afghans about the effectiveness of US, NATO and Afghan forces. The very recent green-on-blue attacks on US and NATO soldiers signal that a bloody summer is awaiting international forces. Those who are hoping for peace in Afghanistan must engage Pakistan, because peace looks quite elusive considering the ground realities in this war-ravaged country.

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So Joe, Tell Us Again How Great Things Are Going In Afghanistan - I Must Have Missed Something?

Apparently, I am just stupid and don't know a thing about foreign affairs. Apparently, the Obama Administrations plans and strategies cannot be questioned, not by you or I, not by the media, or even someone running for office. The message they gave us was "the terrorists are on the run and we are bringing the troops home with a job well done," and that was the foundation of their arguments for their policies in Afghanistan the Obama Administration and the Obama/Biden 2012 campaign. Well, okay fine, but something is amiss because things are not fine in Oz after all it seems.

On Sunday Morning December 2, 2012 there was a news flash which spread across the news wires. The USA Today stated; "Suicide bombers assaulted Jalalabad Airfield, a joint U.S.-Afghan air base in eastern Afghanistan, detonating explosives at the gate and sparking a gunfight that lasted at least two hours."

Now then, do you remember when Vice President Joe Biden and Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan debated on TV and Mr. Biden told Mr. Ryan that he didn't know what he was talking about when it came to training the Afghan forces and that things were not going well in the East of the Country? Joe Biden laughed at Paul Ryan trying to make him look like a fool on TV, and stated that the Obama Administration had absolutely everything under control, not only are things not in control there now, but Mr. Biden couldn't control his laughter or his misstatements during that debate back then.

The mass media kept telling the American People that Joe Biden won the debate? But as time goes on we see that Joe didn't have his facts straight or was just continually telling falsehoods. That is not winning a debate, in my opinion that would be called; lying. But of course, the gentleman and scholar Paul Ryan isn't allowed to say that, politicians get pummeled for using the "L" word, well Republican Candidates I guess, it's okay if the left-leaners scream up and down calling everyone the "L" word and if you disagree with them still, they call you the "R" word.

It's too bad that the American People didn't get a real debate on international affairs, after all, it is the US Taxpayer still paying for what's going on around the world, you know things like the contributions to the IMF to bailout Greece, the foreign aid to Egypt, the costs of the United Nations, the Libyan fiasco, and the war in Afghanistan. If the Obama Administration told falsehoods to get reelected and figured they had to or they would have been defeated then in that case they are not in office legitimately.

Thus, might I be so bold as to suggest that the Obama Administration is unfit to lead, especially when it comes to our Nation's foreign policy? Well, I'd like some straight answers about Afghanistan, about the Libya Benghazi attack, and while we are at it, I have about 20-more questions I'd like answered, sooner than later. I will continue to write more articles these issues. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Military Technologies. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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