August 08, 2013
WASHINGTON - The reality of India fomenting trouble inside Pakistan through Indian consulates in the Afghan cities of Kandahar and Jalalabad appears to be sinking in, with US Special Envoy James Dobbins saying on Wednesday that Islamabad’s concerns over New Delhi’s presence in Afghanistan are exaggerated but ‘not groundless’.
Islamabad accuses Delhi of fomenting trouble on its western border through its consular presence in the Afghan cities. India denies the charge and says it is working on trade and development.
India has spent $2 billion on development projects in Afghanistan and has strong diplomatic and trade ties with Kabul.
Dobbins, US special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, also said that Islamabad was also concerned about the issue of ‘cross-border militancy’.
“The dominant infiltration of militants is from Pakistan into Afghanistan, but we recognise that there is some infiltration of hostile militants from the other direction as well. So Pakistan’s concerns aren’t groundless… They are simply, in our judgement, somewhat exaggerated,” he said in an interview with the BBC.
At the same time, Dobbins said the Indian presence in Afghan cities was minuscule and it was ‘perfectly reasonable’ because of their economic and cultural ties.
James Dobbins has recently returned from a trip to the region along with the Secretary of State John Kerry.
According to BBC report, “In the past, US officials have expressed such sentiments in private, but this is the first time that a diplomat has said it openly.”
Dobbins said the issue had been discussed at great length with Pakistan. “We do remain concerned about the relative freedom with which Afghan insurgents can operate out of Pakistan,” he said.
“We believe that Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US need to collaborate much more closely to deal with this threat of cross-border infiltration.”
He said that Afghan President Hamid Karzai was ‘quite warm’ to the idea of talking to the Taliban and had asked Pakistan to facilitate contact between the Afghan High Peace Council and the insurgents.
He said he hoped that the talks could begin within the next three months.
Meanwhile, the United States on Wednesday expressed concern over the hostile demonstration in front of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, and issued a new call for Pakistan and India to hold talks in order to address the issues between the two countries.
“I understand these are new reports since then. We, of course, are aware of them,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, when the issue of a protesters seeking to attack the Pakistan High Commission in the Indian capital was raised at the daily briefing. Wednesday’s events in New Delhi and Pakistan’s registration of protest over them came after a spate of recent incidents on the Line of Control in the disputed Himalayan region.
“We are concerned about any violence, as always, along the Line of Control. We understand the governments of India and Pakistan are in contact over the issue. We continue to encourage, of course, further dialogue. That is the best step to resolve,” she said.
“We are encouraging them to continue their dialogue, and we are hopeful that will take place,” she added.
Pakistani fears over India Afghan role ‘not groundless’: US envoy
WASHINGTON - The reality of India fomenting trouble inside Pakistan through Indian consulates in the Afghan cities of Kandahar and Jalalabad appears to be sinking in, with US Special Envoy James Dobbins saying on Wednesday that Islamabad’s concerns over New Delhi’s presence in Afghanistan are exaggerated but ‘not groundless’.
Islamabad accuses Delhi of fomenting trouble on its western border through its consular presence in the Afghan cities. India denies the charge and says it is working on trade and development.
India has spent $2 billion on development projects in Afghanistan and has strong diplomatic and trade ties with Kabul.
Dobbins, US special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, also said that Islamabad was also concerned about the issue of ‘cross-border militancy’.
“The dominant infiltration of militants is from Pakistan into Afghanistan, but we recognise that there is some infiltration of hostile militants from the other direction as well. So Pakistan’s concerns aren’t groundless… They are simply, in our judgement, somewhat exaggerated,” he said in an interview with the BBC.
At the same time, Dobbins said the Indian presence in Afghan cities was minuscule and it was ‘perfectly reasonable’ because of their economic and cultural ties.
James Dobbins has recently returned from a trip to the region along with the Secretary of State John Kerry.
According to BBC report, “In the past, US officials have expressed such sentiments in private, but this is the first time that a diplomat has said it openly.”
Dobbins said the issue had been discussed at great length with Pakistan. “We do remain concerned about the relative freedom with which Afghan insurgents can operate out of Pakistan,” he said.
“We believe that Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US need to collaborate much more closely to deal with this threat of cross-border infiltration.”
He said that Afghan President Hamid Karzai was ‘quite warm’ to the idea of talking to the Taliban and had asked Pakistan to facilitate contact between the Afghan High Peace Council and the insurgents.
He said he hoped that the talks could begin within the next three months.
Meanwhile, the United States on Wednesday expressed concern over the hostile demonstration in front of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, and issued a new call for Pakistan and India to hold talks in order to address the issues between the two countries.
“I understand these are new reports since then. We, of course, are aware of them,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, when the issue of a protesters seeking to attack the Pakistan High Commission in the Indian capital was raised at the daily briefing. Wednesday’s events in New Delhi and Pakistan’s registration of protest over them came after a spate of recent incidents on the Line of Control in the disputed Himalayan region.
“We are concerned about any violence, as always, along the Line of Control. We understand the governments of India and Pakistan are in contact over the issue. We continue to encourage, of course, further dialogue. That is the best step to resolve,” she said.
“We are encouraging them to continue their dialogue, and we are hopeful that will take place,” she added.
Pakistani fears over India Afghan role ‘not groundless’: US envoy
