By Umair Jamal
Afghanistan is in a difficult position today. Can it walk a tightrope between India and Pakistan?
Traditionally, Pakistan has invariably remained nervous about Afghanistan’s closeness with India. Pakistan’s military chief, who is on an official visit to the United States, is reportedly carrying Afghanistan’s stalled peace process at top of his agenda, and is expected to discuss it with his American counterparts. The issue may likely eclipse other discussions on Pakistan’s nuclear program.
Both Pakistan and the India have been trying to reach out to Kabul on different levels: Pakistan because of its direct involvement in the Afghan conflict and India because of its growing economic and diplomatic stakes in Afghanistan.
President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan, frustrated over Pakistan’s inability to restrain the Afghan Taliban, which use Pakistani territory to stage attacks, has begun to reveal his growing proximity towards India. In order to woo Pakistan, President Ghani, during the first few months of his presidency, overtly refused any direct Indian military assistance. In a turn of events, Afghanistan has now approached New Delhi for direct military assistance, ignoring Islamabad’s concerns and sensitivities.
Relations between the Pakistanis and Afghans have worsened in recent months. Afghanistan, on many occasions, has accused Pakistan of allowing attacks to occur on Afghan soil. Militants associated with the Afghan Taliban, a month ago, laid siege to the Afghan city of Kunduz and held it for days. It was only after U.S. military assistance that Afghan forces were able to take the city back. Days after the attack, the Afghan media accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban assault. Pakistan, however, denied the allegations. For its part, Islamabad has snubbed Kabul for not doing enough to contain fleeing terrorists from Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Read the full story at The Diplomat