Afghanistan’s Peace Council chief Dr Abdullah Abdullah met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar here on Friday and “exchanged views on the ongoing Afghan peace process”. Dr Abdullah said that Jaishankar assured India’s full support on the matter. But the Afghan peace negotiator did not disclose whether or not India will be talking to the Taliban, though there is a pressure on New Delhi to open at least some channel of communication with them.
However, India has decided not to speak directly to the Taliban in this ongoing peace process. Sources told The Daily Guardian that Jaishankar cautioned Abdullah against the countries (read Pakistan) which might be seeking to influence the peace talk in such a way that suits their interests. Even US President Donald Trump had a few days ago asked Pakistan not to influence the Afghan peace talk for its benefit.
In the meeting, Jaishankar, according to sources, hinted that Pakistan is being seen as playing both sides. Indian foreign minister has also indicated to Dr Abdullah that Islamabad’s military and intelligence apparatus are still backing Taliban violence as a way to exert influence in its neighbour, sources said. “India remains committed to Afghanled, Afghan-owned and Afghancontrolled negotiations,” Jaishankar told Dr Abdullah.
Taking to Twitter, Afghanistan’s chief negotiator of the peace process said that they also discussed regional issues and bilateral cooperation. EAM Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to peace, prosperity and stability in Kabul. But the development should be Afghanled without the interference of others, sources said quoting the EAM.
Dr Abdullah arrived in India on 6 October to muster regional support for the Afghan peace process amid his attempt to reach a peace deal with the Taliban. Dr Abdullah also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to sources, he briefed the PM on the latest development regarding the peace process. PM Modi said that the two leaders had productive talks on various aspects of the India-Afghanistan friendship and assured India’s support in their “quest for peace”.
Sources said that Pakistan did figure during the talks between Dr Abdullah and PM Modi. Dr Abdullah’s visit to India comes at a time when Trump is insisting on withdrawal of remaining troops from Afghanistan by Christmas this year, which is earlier than the deadline of 2021.
Abdullah, who is the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), which is overseeing the country’s talks with the Taliban for a power-sharing deal, is not happy with Trump’s decision on withdrawal of troops. “A premature withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will have consequences, especially if the Taliban don’t deliver on commitments to prevent the use of Afghan soil by groups such as al-Qaeda.”
Dr Abdullah is learnt to have expressed his concern on this line while sharing views with Jaishankar. Sources said that he has urged the Indian leadership also to diplomatically ensure that the US administration delays withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
US President Trump has tweeted that he intended to bring home all American troops from Afghanistan by Christmas, months ahead of the earlier deadline of May 2021. The intra-Afghan negotiations kicked off in Doha under the chairmanship of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 12 September. Dr Abdullah is seeking the Indian leadership’s support for intra-Afghan negotiations which are underway in Doha.
