In Afghanistan, attacks on Indians are mounting unabated. Indian National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon is currently there to take stock of the situation. Afghanistan has been passing through a grim situation for a long time. In 1979, when the erstwhile Soviet troops entered Afghanistan, Pakistan under the patronage of the United States and other Western countries raised certain jihadist [crusaders] organizations to oust Soviet forces from that country. The same organizations are today causing problems for the United States and its allies.
Playing Double Game
Until today, Pakistan seems to be playing a double game. Pakistan, on one hand, supports the campaign being waged by the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, and on the other, Pakistan's infamous intelligence agencies and retired military generals are extending support to the Taliban in Afghanistan even today.
Actually, the Pakistani Military want the United States and other NATO allies to quit Afghanistan and the entire job of dealing with the Afghanistan situation should be left to it. Due to their failure to achieve the desired success in Afghanistan, the United States and NATO allies have started thinking in terms of quitting Afghanistan after reaching an agreement with the Taliban and other terrorist groups there. Such a possibility in fact suits Pakistan. Simultaneously it is planning to oust India also from Afghanistan.
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
India has been engaged for some time in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged Afghanistan. The common people of that country hold India in high esteem for this work being undertaken there since several years, but it is not acceptable to the Pakistani military. It regards Afghanistan as its backyard where it wants complete control of the situation. That is why repeated attacks are launched on the Indian Embassy in Kabul and various Indian companies undertaking construction work there.
Now even the Afghan Government has started saying categorically that the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and jihadist groups active in Pakistan were involved in the attacks. It is also widely known that if the Taliban, etc. come into power again in Afghanistan, and if Pakistan starts using Afghanistan for its own objectives and also continues to use anti-India hardliner organizations as in the past, then security challenges to India will increase.
India's Approach
What should be India's approach under the circumstances? What should it do in order to safeguards its interest, stability, and security in the entire region. India should convene a conference of major Asian nations such as Russia, China, Iran, and other countries adjoining Afghanistan, in New Delhi.
As a part of its preparations for developing a base for this objective, India should first hold meetings with these nations one by one with a view to deliberate on the current situation in Afghanistan and its possible impact on countries in its vicinity. Pakistan's role should also be taken into account at these meetings so that by using its good offices it could inspire Pakistan to play a positive role in Afghanistan.
Ongoing Conditions
It is through the joint endeavors that Afghanistan can get rid of the ongoing conditions in that country. The terms of Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban also can be foiled through adoption of such an approach.
Simultaneously with this approach, India should take its own people into confidence to deal with the security challenges and strengthen its security system. It is by initiating such collective endeavors that India can safeguard its security interests. Thereby, it can make a positive contribution in giving a constructive turn to the situation in Afghanistan.
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