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In an effort to improve ties with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, a high-level delegation led by the external affairs ministry’s joint secretary recently visited Kabul. While India never completely severed ties and maintained a minimal relationship since then through the provision of food and other humanitarian aid, the visit is still proof of how much Indian PM Modi underestimated the Taliban.
Pakistan is engaging the Taliban government since the takeover, sending prompt humanitarian aid, assisting them in air operations and other matters were proof that Islamabad always gave importance to its ties with Afghanistan. The recent visit of the Indian delegation to Afghanistan is clearly a matter of concern for Islamabad, as India has been involved in terror activities in Pakistan in the recent past and the sprinter groups of Taliban can join hands with India against Pakistan.
The Afghan statement relating to the visit suggested that the meeting went beyond humanitarian concerns and into areas such as trade and diplomatic relations, both of which require recognition of the regime. The fact is that India has significant legitimate and ulterior motives for having good ties with Afghanistan; it is a nearby regional country, separated only by the disputed Kashmir region, has great mineral wealth, and, if relations with Pakistan and China were to improve, a strategic trade location. had free reign to arm and finance them.
And while the Taliban are considered more amiable to the Pakistani establishment, there have been significant recent hiccups during discussions over certain issues in the recent past, most significantly over the Taliban’s failure to clamp down on those same terrorist outfits. If these divisions are what prompted India to change tack, we should all be concerned.
Islamabad should keep a close eye on the matter as the issue is important as far as law and order of the country is concerned. Pakistan should expand and further strenghten its ties with the Afghan Taliban govt so that any move of non-state actors against Pakistan can be thwarted.
