Turkey is emerging as a new player in the unfolding Afghanistan peace process. As Afghanistan and Pakistan work on a peace roadmap, with the active assistance and blessings of London and Washington, Turkey has stepped in, even offering to host senior Taliban leaders released by Pakistan for reconciliation talks with the Afghan government.
Therefore, Shivshankar Menon, Indian national security adviser, will travel to Turkey in February for talks on Afghanistan with his counterpart, Muammer Turker, as well as Foreign Secretary, Feridun Sinirlioglu. India is likely to lay out a few of its own perceptions, first, that the US withdrawal should be accelerated. India will be deeply affected by the outcome of whatever political process is implemented in Afghanistan. And with a strong presence on the ground in Afghanistan, India will be keen to ensure its own red lines about the accommodation of the Taliban in a future Afghan government. During the December trilateral summit of Asif Zardari, Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Gul in Ankara, a proposal was floated to invite the Taliban to set up office in Turkey. This would be similar to the help given by Turkey to the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. Sources said Turkey would probably not go as far as to allow the Taliban to open an office, but they would be willing to let peace talks between the Taliban and Afghanistan happen in their country. But Turkey’s involvement may not go down well with many groups inside Afghanistan. Certainly Dostum and the Uzbeks, as well as the Hazaras, say analysts, would have reservations, which would need to be managed if this initiative is to go through.
