Why Mullah Omar's death means little to India

[Zarvan]

SEEMA GUHA
@seemaguha1

#Mullah akhtar mansoor, #Mullah Omar,#Taliban

India is already out of the picture in Afghanistan; so Taliban leader Mullah Omar’s death is of no great significance to it. On Friday, the Taliban acknowledged his death and named Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as its new leader.

Ever since former Afghan president Hamid Karzai left office, India’s role has shrunk. Karzai’s relations with Pakistan was testy and he was keen that India plays a strategic role in Afghanistan. India was the first country with which the Karzai government clinched a strategic partnership agreement in 2011. New Delhi is not a stakeholder in the Afghan peace process; so the reclusive one-eyed Mullah being out of the scene will not affect India’s position in Afghanistan. It is unlikely that the new leader Mullah Mansoor’s attitude towards New Delhi will be any less hostile.

According to a statement issued by Afghan president Ashraf Ghani’s office, Mullah Omar had died of natural causes in 2013. The speculation is that Omar died of tuberculosis in a Karachi hospital. Pakistan has not confirmed the news.

There is now a question mark about the second round of peace talks. However, if Mullah Omar had died in 2013, the angst about the peace negotiations is strange.

Representatives of the Afghan government, the Taliban, as well as China, Pakistan and the US are scheduled to meet soon for the next round of peace talks. Ironically, the Taliban commanders had circulated a report recently saying that Mullah Omar was in favour of the talks. Pakistan regards its role as a "facilitator" and is proud of the fact that the international community is appreciating its support. It is natural that Pakistan wants to make sure that in the final political settlement in Afghanistan, the pro-Pakistan Taliban is accommodated.

There are many in India who believe that the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s pussy-footing and reluctance to supply defence equipments to Afghanistan, despite repeated requests by the then president Karzai was a mistake. But was it? The fact that the Manmohan Singh government concentrated on development projects, including smaller schemes that touched people’s lives helped India earn much goodwill from ordinary Afghan citizens. India has pledged two billion dollar-worth of aid to Afghanistan. This combined with India’s soft power - Bollywood and the Hindi television serials, which are popular in Afghanistan – have worked to make India popular among common Afghans. So be it, New Delhi should just cultivate this goodwill which exists without getting into the internal politics of Afghanistan. It is not an easy country, and as recent history shows, foreign forces occupying the country have got short shrift from the warlords of Afghanistan. After the British, and Russians, even the Americans are not in a position to force their will on the Afghans.

Pakistan has an advantage because it is an immediate neighbour. Pashtuns live on both sides of the border and there are both religious and ethnic bonds. The Taliban was the creature of the madrasas in Pakistan. At one point of time, when the Taliban was ruling in Kabul, Pakistan was in a happy position. The 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Kandahar happened when Mullah Omar and the Taliban were in control. India was number one on the Taliban hate list at that time.

India, together with Iran and Russia, was at that time providing support to the Northern Alliance which was opposed to the Taliban. But in 2001, after the 9/11 attacks on the US when the Taliban was ousted from power by the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces, things brightened up for India. After an initial tango with Pakistan, Hamid Karzai got disillusioned and turned more and more towards New Delhi for support. India was allowed to open its diplomatic mission in Kabul as well as consulates in Kandahar, Herat, Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif. India spreading its wings in Afghanistan was a red rag to Pakistan, which was worried that its security was endangered by Indian forces both on its eastern and western flanks. The attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul as well as those on Indians working on various projects was a reaction to the ISI’s (Inter-Services Intelligence) nervousness. But now with Karzai out of office, and Ghani trying desperately to come to a political settlement with the Taliban, India is on the back foot, while Pakistan is back to where it once was. The US as well as Ghani is relying on Pakistan to bring the Taliban to the table for talks. Pakistan’s all weather friend China is also involved in the peace talks.

But there is no reason for India to be over-anxious about this. Let others deal with the mess. New Delhi should just concentrate on small development projects and the soft power which has made it popular in Afghanistan. It will be good for India to bide its time, till a political solution is found in Afghanistan. At the moment no one knows what turn the situation will take and who will get sucked into the mess. Hands-off Afghanistan is a sound policy for now.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of DailyO.in or the India Today Group. The writers are solely responsible for any claims arising out of the contents of this article.

@Horus @waz @nair @SpArK @GURU DUTT @doppelganger @ares @third eye @Chanakya's_Chant @IND151 @Cherokee @Areesh @AUz

 

[GURU DUTT]

a few things

1. mullah omars death is of no value to indians

2. afghanistan is last thing to worry for indians specially MOD & PMO & MEA

3.indian work in afghanistan is most appricated by all sections of afghani society ... then be it hazaras , tajiks , uzbegs or pakhtoons , northen alliance or taliban or afghan goverment or a common afghan citizen while its opposite for pakistan

4. its the incompetnce and corruption in your establishment which blames its faliures on india and RAW which pakistanies will learn the hard way in deu course of time

5. india wants a peaceful afghanistan so it can have a good trade with CAR nations

6.the new iran US deal has oppenned new avenues for us and weather af pak want to be a part of it is not an issue anymore for us

rest you can speculate and brag about what you want but that is total picture according to indian establishment

 

[anant_s]

Another Shobha de clone?

the new iran US deal has oppenned new avenues for us and weather af pak want to be a part of it is not an issue anymore for us

The deal certainly changes the dynamics in the region.
One thing should be understood clearly, US and NATO troops will not remain in Afghanistan perpetually and so will US's interest in the region. Already the diplomatic attention is shifting towards ISIS and its activities in Middle east and with taliban in an already bad position, don't think Afghanistan will remain at the center of security concerns in say 3-4 years from now. So it is important that a lasting peace prevail in Afghanistan as it is vital not just for its own citizens and growth but also for border areas of Pakistan where it simply isn't feasible the state to deploy troops and carry out counter terrorism operations.
As for Indian connection, what the policy makers want is reach to central Asia countries and to be honest, doing it with Iran is a far better option than anything else plainly from Security point of view.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Another Shobha de clone?


The deal certainly changes the dynamics in the region.
One thing should be understood clearly, US and NATO troops will not remain in Afghanistan perpetually and so ill US's interest in the region. Already the diplomatic attention is shifting towards ISIS and its activities in Middle east and with taliban in an already bad position, don't think Afghanistan will remain at the center of security concerns in say 3-4 years from now. So it is important that a lasting peace prevail in Afghanistan as it is vital not just for its own citizens and growth but also for border areas of Pakistan where it simply isn't feasible the state to deploy troops and carry out counter terrorism operations.
As for Indian connection, what the policy makers want is reach to central Asia countries and to be honest, doing it with Iran is a far better option than anything else plainly from Security point of view.

1.why is @Zarvan an making all such foolish threads ?

2. why are pakistani media so apprehensive about indian role in afghanistan ?

3.why do pakistanies make such wild speculations about iran usa deal ?

4. why pakistanies think that all world is in mourning specially india deu to its devine CEPC ?

5.why do pakistanies want india to attack them wia CSD or surgical strikes ?

cause pakistanies know they have lost the ultimate race and that was making for a better future .... look around in india and its polictical and socio economik landspace and then look at their nation @anant_s bhai you cannot understand their frustaion and they know they dont have positive attitude and imagination aswell so have become so predictable .... dont worry just have fun with them and keep them preoccupied rest they will themselfs do for us which we can never do .... i hope you know what i mean

 

[Zarvan]

1.why is @Zarvan an making all such foolish threads ?

2. why are pakistani media so apprehensive about indian role in afghanistan ?

3.why do pakistanies make such wild speculations about iran usa deal ?

4. why pakistanies think that all world is in mourning specially india deu to its devine CEPC ?

cause pakistanies know they have lost the ultimate race and that was making for a better future .... look around in india and its polictical and socio economik landspace and then look at their nation anant bhai you cannot understand their frustaion and they know they dont have positive attitude and imagination aswell so have become so predictable .... dont worry just have fun with them and keep them preoccupied rest they will themselfs do for us which we can never do .... i hope you know what i mean

You are crying about CPEC which ever major leader Modi meats he complains about CPEC. Your role in Afghanistan we have problem with that because you were using that to create terrorism specially in Baluchistan and all over Pakistan. As for Iran deal with USA it can increase tensions between Iran and KSA which will be really bad for region.

 

[Styx]

1.why is @Zarvan an making all such foolish threads ?

2. why are pakistani media so apprehensive about indian role in afghanistan ?

3.why do pakistanies make such wild speculations about iran usa deal ?

4. why pakistanies think that all world is in mourning specially india deu to its devine CEPC ?

5.why do pakistanies want india to attack them wia CSD or surgical strikes ?

cause pakistanies know they have lost the ultimate race and that was making for a better future .... look around in india and its polictical and socio economik landspace and then look at their nation @anant_s bhai you cannot understand their frustaion and they know they dont have positive attitude and imagination aswell so have become so predictable .... dont worry just have fun with them and keep them preoccupied rest they will themselfs do for us which we can never do .... i hope you know what i mean

haven't you heard, RAW is operating field hospitals in Afghanistan where they treat injured taliban and cultural centers to give them cash..

bas brahmos battery deni baaki hai

 

[GURU DUTT]

You are crying about CPEC which ever major leader Modi meats he complains about CPEC. Your role in Afghanistan we have problem with that because you were using that to create terrorism specially in Baluchistan and all over Pakistan. As for Iran deal with USA it can increase tensions between Iran and KSA which will be really bad for region.

if india really wanted to create trouble in baloochistan today it would not have been with pakistan we could have did the ultimate atleast a decade ago and guess what your establishment knows it way too well but we dint ..... ever wonderred why ? cause we want you to survive for some time more

i know you will make fun of me and i will be rediculed by one and all pakistani members but in the end your nation is again running after yet another "truck ki batti" with regards to indian role in terrorism in pakistan but we are not complaining .... rather trying to confuse things so your nation beleaves it more ...... ever wonderred why


figure it yourself


but to make a note ....... with regards to baloochistan its not india whome you should be worried about

baki aap khud samjhdaar ho .... lagge raho mulla ji

haven't you heard, RAW is operating field hospitals in Afghanistan where they treat injured taliban and cultural centers to give them cash..

bas brahmos battery deni baaki hai

khaamosh tum paleed yaindoos ki itni himmat ki islam ke shaheeno ke barre me iasee zuban istemaal karro

 

[That Guy]

India's opinion matters little, that much has been made clear in recent times.

Mark my words, India's investments in Afghanistan are gonna go down the drain, and they're already headed that way.

Nothing short of a coup from Karzai is going to stop the rapid decline of India's influence in Afghanistan.

 

[Sine Nomine]

if india really wanted to create trouble in baloochistan today it would not have been with pakistan we could have did the ultimate atleast a decade ago and guess what your establishment knows it way too well but we dint ..... ever wonderred why ? cause we want you to survive for some time more

i know you will make fun of me and i will be rediculed by one and all pakistani members but in the end your nation is again running after yet another "truck ki batti" with regards to indian role in terrorism in pakistan but we are not complaining .... rather trying to confuse things so your nation beleaves it more ...... ever wonderred why


figure it yourself


but to make a note ....... with regards to baloochistan its not india whome you should be worried about

baki aap khud samjhdaar ho .... lagge raho mulla ji


khaamosh tum paleed yaindoos ki itni himmat ki islam ke shaheeno ke barre me iasee zuban istemaal karro

First of all Guru je Balochistan is not East Pakistan after 7 months of Mukti bahni and your Para Forces work you still failed to take a citythen after that you have to send a full Army to get the job done,regarding Balochistan you tried during 1970's but failed,then again after soviet came you tried hard in sindh and balcohistan with full support of KGB but failed after 2001 you tried hard but yet in 2015 you are loosing every day, The fact is that East Pakistan was 2000km away simply if India would have attacked it in 1971 without any Mukti Bahni result will not have been different with the size and level of defense what was is East Pakistan.

 

[GURU DUTT]

First of all Guru je Balochistan is not East Pakistan after 7 months of Mukti bahni and your Para Forces work you still failed to take a citythen after that you have to send a full Army to get the job done,regarding Balochistan you tried during 1970's but failed,then again after soviet came you tried hard in sindh and balcohistan with full support of KGB but failed after 2001 you tried hard but yet in 2015 you are loosing every day, The fact is that East Pakistan was 2000km away simply if India would have attacked it in 1971 without any Mukti Bahni result will not have been different with the size and level of defense what was is East Pakistan.

youn to jannat ki hakeekat hamme mallom hai lekin dil behlaane ko ghalib khayaal achha hai .... lagge raho till it helps you feel better

 

[OTTOMAN]

1.why is @Zarvan an making all such foolish threads ?

Boogyman.. his threads are always most stupid lies.. either against Pakistan or in favor of India...nothing in between.
Anyone can check his history of threads.
He is also the most referred to and trumped by the officials of defence pk.

 

[New World]

2. why are pakistani media so apprehensive about indian role in afghanistan ?

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of DailyO.in or the India Today Group. The writers are solely responsible for any claims arising out of the contents of this article.

Pakistani media not interested in India's shitty role in Afghanistan.. it is Indian newspaper DailyO.in of India Today Group..

 

[anant_s]

As for Iran deal with USA it can increase tensions between Iran and KSA which will be really bad for region.

Tensions between KSA and Iran is a likelihood and the reason for that could be Oil prices and Not US. Saudis have already made it clear that they will not heed OPEC's line to cut production in order to maintain their own market share.
Now with Iran's oil coming to market, crude prices will get further strained and that coupled with relatively poor growth in demand for crude globally, could spark off a new diplomatic escalation.

India's opinion matters little, that much has been made clear in recent times.

Mark my words, India's investments in Afghanistan are gonna go down the drain, and they're already headed that way.

Nothing short of a coup from Karzai is going to stop the rapid decline of India's influence in Afghanistan.

Sir, a question here. After NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan, visualize a time 10 years from then, how many countries do you think would be interested in Afghanistan?
My point is other than immediate neighbor's most western countries probably won't want much of presence, unless history repeats 1980s of Red army's invasion of country.
Geo-politically speaking, Iran might turn out to be the most prominent nation in the region (more so as Iraq does not look to be recovering soon).

 

[GURU DUTT]

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of DailyO.in or the India Today Group. The writers are solely responsible for any claims arising out of the contents of this article.

Pakistani media not interested in India's shitty role in Afghanistan.. it is Indian newspaper DailyO.in of India Today Group..

trust me on this one ...... indian media hates pro india indians more than owr enemies combined

 

[samlove]

You are crying about CPEC which ever major leader Modi meats he complains about CPEC. Your role in Afghanistan we have problem with that because you were using that to create terrorism specially in Baluchistan and all over Pakistan. As for Iran deal with USA it can increase tensions between Iran and KSA which will be really bad for region.

brother clear me few things
--- they are building the corridor so tht distance travelled by chinese ship carrying goods specially oil to be reduced so wht is in there for u.
--- they will be running the port where also they will uses chinese labour
--- chinese company is building the corridor mean chinese will their labour
--- also there is no tariff charge on good tht are been transported through this corridor
--- also they are not specially building this corridor for u

wht r u getting from all of this corridor please tell me.