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Delhi must take on larger role, says Afghan NSA
As part of a new political effort to reinforce the regional and international coalition against the return of the Taliban, Kabul is asking New Delhi to take on a larger role in the stabilisation of Afghanistan. We would like to expand cooperation with India in order to strengthen Kabuls ability to secure itself, Afghanistans national security adviser Rangin Daftar Spanta told The Indian Express here on Tuesday.
Spanta was unwilling to be drawn into the specifics of the security cooperation Kabul is seeking from India. Until now New Delhi has consciously avoided any military role in Afghanistan and has concentrated instead on developmental projects, both large and small.
On a two-day visit here, Spanta is apprising the Indian leaders of the gathering crisis in Afghanistan amidst the resurgence of the Taliban and the doubts about the staying power of the international coalition in charge of Kabul since the end of 2001. As it persuades the US to rethink its military strategy in Afghanistan and focus with greater determination on the sources of terrorism across its borders, Kabul is also trying to build a regional united front against the return of the Taliban.
On the prospects for encouraging Pakistan to shut down the sanctuaries for the Taliban and other militant groups fighting the government in Kabul, Spanta said that the international community must come together to begin a serious conversation with Islamabad. Talking about a mix of incentives and disincentives for Pakistan to change its current policy of undermining the government in Kabul, Spanta said Pakistan must be offered all the necessary security assurances in return for a cooperative approach to regional security.
We have no desire to destabilise Pakistan, which has the right to peaceful development within secure borders, Spanta said. If Pakistan does not respond, he added, Afghanistan and its international partners must demonstrate the political resolve to stand up to the challenge from the Taliban and other forces currently enjoying support outside Afghanistan's borders.
Spanta, who earlier served as the foreign minister, called on PM Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, and NSA Shivshankar Menon. Spantas talks this week come close on the heels of Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassouls visit to New Delhi last week.
As strategic partners who share threats from extremism and terrorism, New Delhi and Kabul have a big stake in the emergence of a stable, democratic and moderate Pakistan.
India and Afghanistan agree on the urgency of promoting regional security and trans-border economic cooperation in the northwestern parts of the subcontinent. Spantas visit is about exploring ways to translate that commitment into an actionable agenda. Sources say the talks with Spanta covered the full spectrum of issues relating to the internal, regional and international dimensions of the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
New Delhi has always emphasised that it is not competing with Islamabad in Afghanistan. Spanta, too, underlined Kabuls commitment to engage all the major institutions in Pakistan to promote regional security.
As part of a new political effort to reinforce the regional and international coalition against the return of the Taliban, Kabul is asking New Delhi to take on a larger role in the stabilisation of Afghanistan. We would like to expand cooperation with India in order to strengthen Kabuls ability to secure itself, Afghanistans national security adviser Rangin Daftar Spanta told The Indian Express here on Tuesday.
Spanta was unwilling to be drawn into the specifics of the security cooperation Kabul is seeking from India. Until now New Delhi has consciously avoided any military role in Afghanistan and has concentrated instead on developmental projects, both large and small.
On a two-day visit here, Spanta is apprising the Indian leaders of the gathering crisis in Afghanistan amidst the resurgence of the Taliban and the doubts about the staying power of the international coalition in charge of Kabul since the end of 2001. As it persuades the US to rethink its military strategy in Afghanistan and focus with greater determination on the sources of terrorism across its borders, Kabul is also trying to build a regional united front against the return of the Taliban.
On the prospects for encouraging Pakistan to shut down the sanctuaries for the Taliban and other militant groups fighting the government in Kabul, Spanta said that the international community must come together to begin a serious conversation with Islamabad. Talking about a mix of incentives and disincentives for Pakistan to change its current policy of undermining the government in Kabul, Spanta said Pakistan must be offered all the necessary security assurances in return for a cooperative approach to regional security.
We have no desire to destabilise Pakistan, which has the right to peaceful development within secure borders, Spanta said. If Pakistan does not respond, he added, Afghanistan and its international partners must demonstrate the political resolve to stand up to the challenge from the Taliban and other forces currently enjoying support outside Afghanistan's borders.
Spanta, who earlier served as the foreign minister, called on PM Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, and NSA Shivshankar Menon. Spantas talks this week come close on the heels of Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassouls visit to New Delhi last week.
As strategic partners who share threats from extremism and terrorism, New Delhi and Kabul have a big stake in the emergence of a stable, democratic and moderate Pakistan.
India and Afghanistan agree on the urgency of promoting regional security and trans-border economic cooperation in the northwestern parts of the subcontinent. Spantas visit is about exploring ways to translate that commitment into an actionable agenda. Sources say the talks with Spanta covered the full spectrum of issues relating to the internal, regional and international dimensions of the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
New Delhi has always emphasised that it is not competing with Islamabad in Afghanistan. Spanta, too, underlined Kabuls commitment to engage all the major institutions in Pakistan to promote regional security.
