In a diplomatic victory of sorts for New Delhi, India has managed to ensure that Thursday’s Kabul Declaration raises pressure on Pakistan for providing a safe haven for terrorists while calling for the dismantling of these safe sanctuaries. The Kabul declaration was made upon the conclusion of a day-long conference in the Afghan capital in which leaders of 29 countries participated. It was the first ministerial meeting after the Istanbul conference in November 2011 and focused on Afghanistan’s development and future.
Significantly, the Kabul conference also marked the recommencement of the Afghan reconciliation process with the Taliban. Afghan President, Hamid Karzai announced that Salahuddin Rabbani, head of the Afghan High Peace Council will visit Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to seek help to make the reconciliation process a success.
This process received a huge setback after Salahuddin’s father, former Afghan President and Afghan High Peace Council chief Burhanu-ddin Rabbani was killed in September 2011.
The Kabul conference has endorsed Afghan efforts to reconcile the Taliban and other militant groups.
The reference to terrorism and safe havens, seen also as an oblique reference to Pakistan backing for the Taliban finds mention in the preamble of the Kabul Declaration. It reads thus: “Agreeing that terrorism and violent extremism are common threats to the region; and emphasising the need for joint and concerted efforts and cooperation among the regional countries to address the challenge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the dismantling of terrorists sanctuaries and safe havens as well as disrupting all financial and tactical support for terrorism.”
The foreign ministers of Russia, Pakistan, Iran, United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Denmark were among the participants at the “Heart of Asia” mijisrerial conference in Kabul. The US was represented by deputy secretary of state, William Burns, while India was represented by law minister Salman Khur-shid.
While New Delhi has had its way on what it has often said — that Pak offers a safe sanctuary to terrorists and needs to do something about this — Kabul too should be pleased with this reference.