India, Iran to join Afghan peace process: Olson

[Blackmoon]

WASHINGTON: India and Iran will be included in the Afghan peace process at a later stage, a senior US official has said while recognising Pakistan’s role as well.

In tweets sent after he spoke at a Washington think tank on Tuesday, Ambassador Richard Olson said: “Pakistan does remain committed to the process of reconciliation and talks in Afghanistan.”
Mr Olson was the US ambassador in Islamabad before he was called back to Washington late last year and made the US special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He noted that both India and Iran had stakes in Afghanistan’s future and said that’s why they would be included in peace efforts at a later stage.
But Washington’s priority now was to get the talks started, he added.

Ambassador Olson said the US decision to eliminate Taliban leader Mullah Mansour and give combat powers to American troops in Afghanistan should not be seen as indication of a lack of interest in the peace process.
“The Taliban’s repeated refusal to join talks with the Afghan government contributed to the US decision to take action against Mullah Mansur on May 21,” he said.

He noted that some commentators interpreted the strike as indicating a shift in US strategy or a weakening of its commitment to the peace process. “It has not,” he said.
“Mullah Mansur was an obstacle to peace, posed a continued threat to US persons through his support for operations against US forces, and was perpetuating a war without end.”

On June 9, President Obama gave the US military the power to assist the Afghan military in combat missions against the Taliban.

But Ambassador Olson pointed out that while announcing these decisions, “President Obama made clear … that the removal of Mullah Mansur and the expanded US authority do not represent a strategic shift in our approach to Afghanistan.”

The envoy assured the international community that the US was not resuming day-to-day combat operations in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan national defence and security forces have full responsibility, as they should, for providing security in their country,” he said. “Nonetheless, this strike should make clear to all parties in the region that the United States is fully prepared to protect its interests.”

Emphasising the US commitment to fight terrorism, Mr Olson said: “Even though the United States has ceased combat operations against the Taliban, we will continue to protect our people and our interests.”
But the determination to fight for its interests had not lessened US commitment to seeking a negotiated settlement to the Afghan dispute, he said.
“We will also continue to encourage an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process in which the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban can bring this conflict to an end.”
http://www.dawn.com/news/1266651

 

[maximuswarrior]

I don't know whether it is a good idea for Pakistan to keep itself engaged in these unending peace talks whilst we're also being accused as the main perpetrator. Let Iran, India and the US figure out whether Afghanistan can be a success. As long as Pakistan can repatriate Afghans and secure its border we are fine.

Pakistan has gained nothing, but death and misery by being part of these peace talks and the US WoT. After more than a decade we are still counting our dead. They force us to do more and even accuse us for their own failures. I think time has come to drastically curtail our role in this whole mess. Let them figure it out.

 

[SrNair]

It should have been like this from the start of the Afghan talks .Peace talks of Afghan cant complete at the absence of Iran and India .Both of them are very important for Afghan future.

It should have been like this from the start of the Afghan talks .Peace talks of Afghan cant complete at the absence of Iran and India .Both of them are very important for Afghan future.

 

[neem456]

Big players cant stay away from afghanistan for long, its inevitalbe iran and india takes things in its hands. Enough of childs play already.

 

[Spy Master]

For Iran, it may happen...But for India, there is literally no chance...India already tried hard through USA to get into peace talks but blocked by Pakistan..Without Pakistan, Afghan Taliban will never start peace process!
P.S: India doesn't share a border nor has any stakes in Afghanistan so why want a seat in peace talks? Just to show that it is also a regional player...

 

[ifesvr]

For Iran, it may happen...But for India, there is literally no chance...India already tried hard through USA to get into peace talks but blocked by Pakistan..Without Pakistan, Afghan Taliban will never start peace process!

The continued turmoil in Afghanistan is now mostly terrorism, and India is a victim of that terrorism when an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked from Nepal and taken to Afghanistan. The Taliban let off those hijackers and terrorists free. Moreover, India's consulates in Afghanistan is one of the few countries that is attacked repeatedly by these terrorists, so India does have a role to play. Nevertheless, the call lies with Afghan govt., if they don't want India in peace talks we should stay away, but they are the only one to dictate who should be in or out of talks, not Pakistan.

 

[Spy Master]

The continued turmoil in Afghanistan is now mostly terrorism, and India is a victim of that terrorism when an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked from Nepal and taken to Afghanistan. The Taliban let off those hijackers and terrorists free. Moreover, India's consulates in Afghanistan is one of the few countries that is attacked repeatedly by these terrorists, so India does have a role to play. Nevertheless, the call lies with Afghan govt., if they don't want India in peace talks we should stay away, but they are the only one to dictate who should be in or out of talks, not Pakistan.

I disagree with your reason on Indian inclusion...! And Thing is Afghan govt. has no control over Afghan Talibans, but Pakistan has somewhat a little influence on them because they were trained by American-Pakistani Instructors in 80s...So peace process in Afghanistan is solely based on Pakistan efforts and Pakistan did show a lot of effort by bringing Talibans to peace tables...Nevertheless, Stability in Afghanistan means Stability in our FATA Region!

 

[Pandora]

There will be no peace talks now as long as US is on the table as Taliban will never agree to it. US burnt all bridges when they killed Mansoor.

 

[GR!FF!N]

usa's policy reminds me this one...

If you can't catch a fish,muddy the water.

 

[cloud4000]

For Iran, it may happen...But for India, there is literally no chance...India already tried hard through USA to get into peace talks but blocked by Pakistan..Without Pakistan, Afghan Taliban will never start peace process!
P.S: India doesn't share a border nor has any stakes in Afghanistan so why want a seat in peace talks? Just to show that it is also a regional player...

Wow. On one hand, Pakistan says Afghan Taliban need a seat at the negotiating table. Everyone agrees, so they tell Pakistan to bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table. Pakistan asks. Afghan Taliban refuse. Pakistan throws its hands in the air and say there's nothing they can do about it as they have no influence on Afghan Taliban.

If Pakistan can deliver would the US have invited India and Iran to the table?

There will be no peace talks now as long as US is on the table as Taliban will never agree to it. US burnt all bridges when they killed Mansoor.

Mansoor was the one who was refusing to negotiate. He was an impediment.

 

[Spy Master]

Wow. On one hand, Pakistan says Afghan Taliban need a seat at the negotiating table. Everyone agrees, so they tell Pakistan to bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table. Pakistan asks. Afghan Taliban refuse. Pakistan throws its hands in the air and say there's nothing they can do about it as they have no influence on Afghan Taliban.

If Pakistan can deliver would the US have invited India and Iran to the table?



Mansoor was the one who was refusing to negotiate. He was an impediment.

You have no idea what you are talking about..it was USA who asked Pakistan to bring Afghan Talibans o negotiating table...How do you think USA/PAKISTAN/AFGHAN TALIBANS met in QATAR and ISLAMABAD for peace talks...by phone calls?

 

[cloud4000]

You have no idea what you are talking about..it was USA who asked Pakistan to bring Afghan Talibans o negotiating table...How do you think USA/PAKISTAN/AFGHAN TALIBANS met in QATAR and ISLAMABAD for peace talks...by phone calls?

Why did US ask Pakistan to bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table? Because Pakistan has the most influence on them. Pakistan not only created them, but has sustained them and given them sanctuary.

Why do you think India and Iran have been brought in?

 

[Spy Master]

Why did US ask Pakistan to bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table? Because Pakistan has the most influence on them. Pakistan not only created them, but has sustained them and given them sanctuary.

Why do you think India and Iran have been brought in?

Lol...And wtf did i just write in my above posts...And USA tried too hard to bring India on negotiating table in past too but Pakistan blocked it...and in current scenario I don't think Pakistan will change it's policy...About Iran I am not so sure...!
P.S: Get your facts straight first, Not only Pakistan but USA and Whole NATO created Taliban to bring down USSR...Don't blame Pakistan only...!

 

[Grevion]

The inclusion of Iran and India in the Afghan peace talks will be a right decision for the whole region as well as for the future of Afghanistan and its people.
May there be peace and development in the war torn country as its citizens deserves better.

 

[cloud4000]

Lol...And wtf did i just write in my above posts...And USA tried too hard to bring India on negotiating table in past too but Pakistan blocked it...and in current scenario I don't think Pakistan will change it's policy...About Iran I am not so sure...!

Pakistan will do what? Walk away? Things have gone far enough that US has added India and Iran to the mix.

P.S: Get your facts straight first, Not only Pakistan but USA and Whole NATO created Taliban to bring down USSR...Don't blame Pakistan only...!

No, I think you are mixing two different things. US may have had a hand in fighting the Soviets by funding and army Afghan resistance, but they had no hand in rise of the Taliban, who emerged in the 1990s, long after US had left Afghanistan.