Mansur Khan
There have been growing calls in recent years for regional actors to engage more practically with Afghanistan. Besides, the Afghan state has not yet proven so resilient which were earlier anticipated by the foreign powers, in the face of recent political and security challenges posed by Afghan Taliban. However, due to constant aid and guidance by the foreign countries, Afghan security forces are trying to enable themselves to independently take over and run the much anticipated role of securing the fragile country. However, it would be dependent on the political lot to offer their security forces the much needed resources to train and equip their security personnel to tackle and neutralize any opposition, like Taliban and Daesh. Some experts also opined that the initiatives for emphasizing Afghanistan’s strategic centrality to its neighbourhood, and its potential as a transport hub of energies, must be appreciated by the regional as well as extra regional countries to fulfill their energy requirements.
A majority of experts are unanimous in their views that the US presence in Afghanistan is primarily to serve their geo-strategic interests in containing China and Russia. On the other hand, India has also very wickedly exploited the post 2001 scenario of Afghanistan as an opportunity to use Afghan soil for its devilish designs against Pakistan. India has left no stone unturned to support proxies against Pakistan by exploiting all available resources in Afghanistan, which definitely have effected the deep rooted brotherly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. India is continuously attempting to justify her relevance in Afghanistan through increased involvement with Afghan Defense Forces, Police, Afghan intelligence agency(NDS) as well as through the development projects and expanded economic ties. Indian secret service RAW has joined hands with NDS to carryout subversive activities in Pakistan at a time when Pakistan’s war against terror is in decisive phase. Although, RAW’s role in creating problems for Pakistan is no secret, NDS’s willingness to cooperate with Islamabad’s known enemy is being regarded as a setback to the Pakistan government’s political initiative of improving bilateral ties.
India being boasted as a major donor country to Afghanistan, will continue to exploit the weaknesses of the Afghan government and will also prevent any serious attempts of electoral reforms by fanning the differences of different political segments and key political personalities, so that the situation remain in shambles and conducive for her exploitation. As usual, elements in the West, India and Afghanistan are again concocting narratives against Pakistan to falsely portray that Pakistan is responsible for all the problems in Afghanistan, as it supports the Taliban and proliferates Terrorism in the region.
Moreover, to consolidate Indo-US bonhomie, deliberate pressure is being increased on Pakistan on the issue of Haqqanis. If Pakistan is alleged of supporting Haqqanis, then who is the supporter/ accomplice of TTP. Undoubtedly, Pakistan is being made an escape goat for the failed US policies and inefficient Afghan government. India is also increasing her outreach and wooing some tribal heads of Afghanistan to her. Reportedly, Indian authorities are increasing contacts with Afghan tribes having sizeable population / strength in the areas, where Indian companies are investing huge sums. In a recent such overture, Indian officials contacted the head of Pashai tribe. The tribe has sizable population in northeastern Afghanistan as well as across the border in the district of Chitral in Pakistan. In another development, Afghan government has made peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami led by Gulbadeen Hekmatyar. Keeping the prevalent sit and political wrangling in Afghanistan, the peace deal may have little chances of success but needs to be analyzed and watched further. India continued exploitation of sectarian fault lines in Pakistan, is also attempting to gain space for wedging her new maneuvers to implement the sinister scheming against Pakistan by exploiting Afghan tribal leverage ,who are having ample interaction and influence on the tribesmen living in Pakistan’s Tribal belt as well as in settled areas. Such maneuvers are meant for maintaining pressure on Pakistan and creating unfavorable atmosphere for the economic outreach of China in the region.
The question arises, what is so appealing in Afghanistan that India has invested billions? Why is India trying to win the goodwill of Afghan people? the unfolding events has now confirmed that India has established itself in Afghanistan just to bleed Pakistan by cuts incurred through sponsored terrorism, gain a foothold to ignite Balochistan insurgency and to ultimately sandwich Pakistan leading to destabilization. In her latest sinister plan, which is being launched with the help of some pessimistic Indian and Pakistan self styled experts or think tank and their so called pseudo security intellects are also trying to falsely linking Pakistan with the emergence and rise of ISIS in Afghanistan. At the moment ISIS is gaining momentum in Afghanistan and its presence and domination in Nangarhar, Afghanistan is becoming a grew some reality for the Afghan government as well as Pakistan government. As the areas is adjacent to the tribal areas of Pakistan. There are initially two mega fears, which needs to be catered for , so internally and externally we could tackle the challenges of any such scenario. One of the biggest fear is the spread of the ISIS while exploring the sectarian fault lines in Tribal areas of Pakistan, secondly, it could be propagated that since Nangarhar is adjacent to Pakistan, hence the elements of ISIS are supported by Pakistan, such an allegations are already in circulation by Indian think tanks at different forums. Indian such moves needs to be exposed at early stages of spreading. There is another aspect of the situation, in which the presence of ISIS and its domination in Afghanistan could be flipped and replicated by our adversaries led by India in Pakistan’s tribal belt. There is a dire need to timely address any such scenario and counter any such sinister plan, which could bring irreparable damages to our country.
India has become an expert player in exploiting the security, political, diplomatic, social, and religious affairs of Afghanistan. India seems obsessed to acquire a global status by hook or crook, she is trying to establish her hegemony in the region by creating and manipulating different scenarios. The present efforts of orchestrating a dangerous game of supporting ISIS could bring damaging results for her and the region. Experts opine that circumstantially evidences are pointing towards Indian support to ISIS in Afghanistan. The support and guidance of ISIS by US and Israel is no more a secret, even international media has exposed this fact a number of times by exposing their dual and Hippocratic acts. The eye opener confirmation of their involvement behind the nurturing of the ISIS, got exposed during Syrian war, when the wounded soldiers of ISIS were given medical treatment by Israeli army inside Israel’s territory. Besides, the matter of supplying weapons and ammunition to ISIS in Iraq by US got exposed, even international media has reported. Obviously, at later stage, it was denied by the US officials by having an excuse of mistaken delivery of arms and ammunition to ISIS in Iraq. Both US and the Israel, are on same footing of supporting ISIS in Afghanistan through India. As India enjoys an overwhelming military and intelligence collaboration with Israel and US. Supporting the devilish approaches against humanity and adding more suffering to humanity would never bring good to these countries.
