A Taliban delegation’s recent visit to Pakistan has made its rounds in the news. The delegation, headed by their political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, traveled to partake in discussions concerning the future of the Afghan peace process.
The Stand of Pakistan on Afghan Issue
Pakistan has played a pivotal role in facilitating the peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban. With this significant step achieved, Pakistan now focuses its attention on initiating intra-Afghan peace dialogue, an approach that Afghanistan also agrees with. As part of its commitment to enhancing cooperation across all fields, Pakistan seeks to further deepen its ties with Afghanistan.
Issues Encountered during the Visit
Interestingly, the Taliban’s visit to Pakistan was set against the backdrop of a stalled intra-Afghan peace dialogue. The deadlock was mainly due to the contentious issue of prisoners release. The Taliban has expressed a desire to expedite this dialogue. To resolve this issue, the Afghanistan government had previously assembled the Loya Jirga (grand assembly), which approved the release of prisoners and encouraged the progression of the peace process.
The Background of the Peace Process
The United States recently signed a deal with the Taliban, signaling a route towards a full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. This marks a significant step towards ending the 18-year-long war in Afghanistan. The peace deal was designed to set off two distinct processes – a phased withdrawal of US troops and an ‘intra-Afghan’ dialogue. The purpose of this deal is to pave the path for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and shape the future political roadmap for the peace process in Afghanistan.
India’s Interests in the Stability of Afghanistan
India holds a significant stake in Afghanistan’s stability and has invested considerable resources in its development. Examples of such investments include the construction of the Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, and the Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam), among others. India is in favor of keeping the current Afghanistan government in power, viewing it as a strategic asset against Pakistan. The possibility of an increased political and military role for the Taliban, along with its territorial expansion, would pose a grave concern for India. This is because the Taliban is widely considered to be a protege of Pakistan. Furthermore, Afghanistan’s position as the gateway to Central Asia makes it significant to India. The withdrawal of US troops might pave the way for various anti-India terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed to gain strength.
The Way Forward for India
For India, supporting any authentic peace process in Afghanistan should be a priority. However, the peace process currently seems to be heavily influenced and driven by the United States and Pakistan. India should maintain a stance of non-recognition and non-engagement with the Taliban until it acknowledges the Afghanistan government.
