Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed a partnership deal with India on Tuesday in a move bound to raise suspicion in Pakistan at a time of apparently shifting alliances in unstable South Asia.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have long been fragile, have soured over accusations that Islamabad has been covertly funding militant groups carrying out attacks in the neighbouring country. Karzai, speaking at a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, stressed again that “terrorism and radicalism” were being used “as an instrument of policy against our citizens”.
It appeared to be a veiled reference to Pakistan. The “strategic partnership” sealed with India – the first such pact between Afghanistan and another country – deepens already friendly ties and aims to boost trade, security and cultural links between the countries. Singh said the deal “creates an institutional framework for our future cooperation”. He added, “India will stand by the people of Afghanistan as they prepare to assume the responsibility for their governance and security after the withdrawal of international forces in 2014.”
But Indian involvement in Afghanistan is extremely sensitive because of the delicate and often deadly power games in South Asia, with Pakistan vehemently opposed to its arch-foe meddling in what it considers its backyard. New Delhi, fearful of the return of an extremist regime in Kabul, has ploughed about $2.0 billion of aid into the country to gain influence, helping fund highways and the new national parliament. Analysts in India had predicted that Karzai, angry at Pakistan and wary of a drawdown of US troops by 2014, would look to elevate India’s role in stabilising his war-torn country.
Some expressed concern, however, that a greater role for India could lead to a more intense and dangerous “proxy war” between it and nuclear-armed Pakistan on Afghan territory, with unpredictable consequences. “Delhi and Kabul are realistic enough to know that there can be no lasting peace in Afghanistan without a measure of Pakistan’s support,” C Raja Mohan, from the Centre For Policy Research in New Delhi, wrote on Tuesday. The Afghan president’s trip, his second to India this year, comes after the assassination last month of former president and peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed by a Pakistani citizen according to Karzai’s office.
Very good sign. India has legitimate interests in the region and must not allow Pakistan to convert Afagnistan into its sattellite state.
Can not blame Karzai or Afghan, for that matter, really….
Pakistan can not account for one single good deed in that land.
USA and Nato forces have been unsuccessful in bringing peace to Afg/Pak. The only way to succeed is to have full cooperation of Afg/Pak/India .
INDIA, I kinda like your President . Wanna trade? We'll just charge you 10% of what our president is worth, as the 90% is ours anyways.
Thanks! But 'no' thanks.
The breeders the keepers…
This proves our total failure on handling foreign policies both on India and Afghanistan. By the way who is handling our affairs in foreign office ????? I don't know, does anyone here knows?????
I do!
"THE BRASS!"
Anyone who thinks Afghanistan can do away with Pakistan lives in fools paradise.Pakistan hosted more than 3.5m Afghans for more than three decades.It captured almost all HVTs post 9/11.Our economy bore a staggering loss of more than 70 b USD due to this war.35000/ Pakistanis have been killed so far and more than 2000 jawans and officers embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.Forget Karzai Nobody recognizes him outside his palace in Kabul.He is good for nothing.We have been asked to launch offensive against Taliban whereas USA and Afghan government hold covert parleys with them.Sheer irony
Easy! Don't be so sure. Otherwise Karzai won't have been in Delhi today. Sometimes it takes a little time for things to catch-up with you. But when it does it gets gets you in a monkey 'wrench' for real.
"U.S. and Uzbekistan Discuss More Supply Routes" – New York Times, Sept. 29th.
"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/world/asia/united-states-and-uzbekistan-discuss-more-supply-routes.html?ref=asia"
if karzai is nothing, then why does pak get into a spin when India and afghans sign a partnership?? you guys speak so much about your "sovereignity", then why do you get all scared if 2 other sovereign nations make a deal??? and where did you get all these numbers about paki sacrifices??? each time another paki gives another figure. and how come you pakis have to keep saying of your sacrifices?? do you think by keep saying this anyone will believe?? The entire world knows now what you are. Even other islamic nations or even china is keeping you at arms length. what a pity
karzai is just a puppet
Pakistani people must get hold of their army & ISI otherwise forget the strategic depth, Pakistanis wont be able to locate their borders. If your army & ISI continue this way the result will be either of 1) Nuclear armegadon in South Asia with total destruction of Indus (Pakistani) & Gangetic (North Indian) civilisation or 2) Balkanisation/Breakup of Pakistan on ethnic lines. I am sure the Pakistani ruling elite (ex-Mughals, Syeds etc.) would be very happy with the first outcome as that is the ultimate goal of Islamist conquest of India.
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