It became evident earlier this week that the US is trying to do a deal with Pakistan and the Taliban — in the guise of promoting a peace process through Doha with the Pakistan-sheltered extremist group — behind the backs of Kabul. But it has been found out and backtracked. India, which has extremely high stakes in Afghanistan, must keep this in view when it discusses the situation with US secretary of state John Kerry shortly.
New Delhi should unflinchingly inform the US official that it cannot in any manner support the Taliban gaining legitimacy through subterfuge and without an electoral process in an environment of peace, and that it will continue to stand by Afghans, who in the past decade have tried to put their faith in instruments of democracy.
To bolster its interests in Afghanistan, and in a move widely seen as being of considerable strategic value, India recently signed a tripartite agreement with Tehran and Kabul to build Iran’s Chabahar port through which will pass merchandise bound for Afghanistan and Central Asia. New Delhi also agreed to supply defence equipment to Afghanistan and has a strategic partnership agreement with it. A forthright stand on the Doha swindle is the logical sequence to these developments.
By dropping all its earlier conditions — breaking of links with Al Qaeda, respecting the present Afghan Constitution, having regard for the equality of women in Afghanistan and promoting human rights, besides ceasing to inflict violence — and letting the Taliban gain regional and international legitimacy by opening what amounts to an embassy in the Qatari capital (with flag and the nameplate of “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”), Washington thought it would appease Pakistan, which in turn would permit US men and materials to withdraw in honour from Afghanistan in 2014 by asking the Taliban to lay off. For the Taliban, the prize was the seat of power in Kabul, that was being jettisoned by the Americans, who so far had appeared to be its best guarantor.
However, President Karzai’s decisive action has put paid to these hopes. The Afghan leader suspended bilateral talks with the US on the continued presence of some American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, and their use of Afghan bases. Washington has expressed regret. The Taliban flag and nameplate have suddenly come off in Doha. But
Mr Karzai also wants a public commitment from the Taliban for ending armed struggle, and from the US that the peace process will be led by Kabul, not Washington. It is hoped some of this refreshing candour would rub off on Kabul’s allies.