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Faisal Zahid Malik
ACCORDING to reports, India has prepared a plan to unleash a new set of schemes aimed at sabotaging the US-Taliban agreement and paving the way for the continuation of the war in Afghanistan.
The Indians are looking for a continuation of the Afghan conflict that will keep the US and NATO forces engaged in this region while the Indians can use their presence as a cover to expand its own influence in the region, says a Middle East diplomat who requested anonymity.
According to reports, India spelled out parts of its strategy during Indian NSA’s recent visit to Kabul during which he met with several top Afghan leaders including Vice President Amrullah Saleh. Mr. Doval also met with President Ashraf Ghani, CEO Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and former President Hamid Karzai.
Following his hour-long meeting with India’s NSA Ajit Doval, Amrullah Saleh tweeted on January 15, 2021: “Had a pleasant meeting with NSA Ajit Doval of India. We discussed the enemy. It was an in-depth discussion.”
Afghan insiders later reported that Indian NSA urged his Afghan partners “to implement a plan that can swiftly force the US to reconsider its February agreement with the Afghan Taliban and create a situation where Afghan Government forces can crush all militants. What is more alarming is that Indian NSA has suggested to his Afghan colleagues to use “militants against militants and Islamists against Islamists” to crush the Taliban and make Afghanistan safe for its people and its “close strategic allies” including India.
Diplomatic sources also fear that Afghan government leaders are being misguided by some of his pro-Indian key officials to close options for the Taliban to maintain peace and stability in the region under their control.
The new strategy is being adopted by India at a time when India’s diplomats are busy lobbying in the United States to urge new Biden Administration officials to abrogate the Qatar Agreement with the Taliban or at least put tough conditions so that the Taliban themselves should withdraw from the February Agreement.
