The Indian role in Afghanistan (new title)

[Ken White]

The incompetence of your enemy (strategy and/or troops) increases your stature.

That's true.

[davidbfpo]

The main focus is on India, but there's always a Pakistani angle too:http://www.iiss.org/publications/str...n-afghanistan/

Three items I noted:

...it is not clear that India would wholeheartedly support all attempts at political reconciliation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signalled a significant shift in US policy in February when she said that the 'red lines' for talks with the Taliban – the renunciation of violence, abandonment of an alliance with al-Qaeda and abidance by the Afghan Constitution – were 'necessary outcomes' rather than preconditions. India may not support this move towards negotiations with the Taliban without preconditions.

Yet despite being the largest regional donor in Afghanistan,and the fifth largest internationally, India finds it increasingly difficult to operate in Afghanistan.... Since 2001, 20 Indian nationals have been killed....Crucially, no new major construction project has started in the past two to three years.

The possibility of a Pakistan-brokered endgame between hardline elements of the Taliban and the Afghan government, along with the potential destabilisation of existing Afghan governance structures, remains of concern to India. India enjoys broad public support in Afghanistan, because its reconstruction efforts have been spread throughout the country and benefited all ethnic and tribal groups.

[Ray]

India commits to help Afghan security forces


Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony "conveyed the government of India's willingness to work with the Afghan government in building the capabilities of Afghan security forces," a statement said.

His Afghan counterpart Abdul Rahim Wardak is on a three-day visit to India accompanied by a seven-member team.

Afghan-Indian ties have raised hackles in Islamabad, where the Pakistani government and military establishment has long considered Afghanistan its own strategic asset to offset the perceived threat from India in the east.

India last month pledged $500 million in fresh aid to Afghanistan, raising New Delhi's contribution to $2 billion, to be spent mainly on development projects.

India's military assistance has so far been limited to training Afghanistan's security personnel and investing in small infrastructure projects.

Any greater involvement of Indian forces in Afghanistan would likely face objections from Pakistan, India's regional adversary.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...64a7553e16.af1

[davidbfpo]

Not surprisingly some Indian commentators oppose the much-talked about "talks" with the Afghan Taliban:http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analy...-with-brigands

A reported negotiator actually being in Pakistani custody and Germany / Qatar 'good offices' being used.