[MENTION=411]However, no matter what "lofty" goals or interests India shares with Iran over AFG., lack of determination or concrete actions will lead u nowhere.
We are on same page. In other words, I agree with you completely, especially the BOLD part. But, even as we are talking, there is enough action underway in Af-stan in the Indian Camp.
Just wait and see which will be completed first in the race - Gwadar or C Port.
Sure, we would see.
Northern Alliance is in the pocket of SCO (aka Russia+China)
Are you sure ? Again, request you to read a bit more. Our influence there
counts &
runs deep.
Further, Russia-India collaboration, especially in that region (despite few minor hiccups in the past), needs no introduction. Things are already cooking between the two parties through multiple channels (it's been sustained, formal exercise over the years but has acquired more meaning in the wake of developments unfolding in Af-stan) & plans + power/influence-sharing mechanisms are being formulated to manage Af-stan conundrum once US leaves.
But, above all,
US needs India to be at the forefront of nation-building efforts there (if you know what I mean) & we are going to receive all forms of assistance (including material) to accomplish there. Not that, we can't do without it. US simply cant afford to let Af-stan turn back into a safe haven for extremists and see it's 13 years of hard work undone (nearly, 1 trillion $ of investment & enough lives lost). US knows that India can be a trusted partner in accomplishment of its core interests & our interests converge to a great extent with US in that region. To that effect, already, ample level of understanding has been arrived at, between the two & knowledge-sharing exercises/power-transfer mechanisms U& hand-holding co-operation is already underway.
We are there in Af-stan for the long-haul, & we have been a positive, committed player/stakeholder in that region all along. In Af-stan, we mean good. For the Afghans & the entire region, India is synonymous for development & rehabilitation. Apart from everyone else, the Afghans & sizeable sections of Pakhtoons realize that, & regularly acknowledge this fact, publicly. India, as a "force of good" is an established reality sunk into Afghan psyche, as well as among most stakeholder nations, who matter. And, India is going to build upon that reality, no-holds-barred.
and Taliban with Pakistan.
Lets see for how long before the Frankenstein turns back on it own creator.
Already, one off-shoot (TTP) has been at Pak's neck & been blowing up ISI's & Army, Navy, AF, establishments at will. Not long ago, this faction commanded & held complete sway over NWFP/FATA & Swat areas. Still, Pak has little to no control over these tribal areas (they never had much, anyway) & these areas are governed by jirgas whose commanding elders are completely pissed off with Paki Army for selling themselves & allowing full-blown drone strikes on them.
Only the Gulbuddin Hekmatyar faction (whose loyalty is perpetually suspect & always ready to be rented) & the Haqqani network are closely is aligned with them. Mullah Omar has already been pissed off due to Paki's cowardice (as mentioned above) & consider's Pak Army a partner-in-crime with the Umreekans.
If u play GO u certainly understand the "first mover advantage".
No, I do not play GO. I have heard & read few good things about it. But, that immaterial; or in other words, that hardly matters.
It's just a matter of time, before Chinese mining companies & contractors in Af-stan have to depend on Indian goodwill for ensuring there operations go unimpeded there (the exact same way, they depend on US/NATO forces, today for enforcing the security guarantee).
Separately I even posted on Iran-Taliban talks. :shocked:
Yes, their rapprochement efforts are on for quite some time but never had a change on ground-reality. Things are so clearly messed up between the two, that any negotiations & minor understandings arrived at, between these two antagonists hold limited validity. The innate hostilities between the two is too deeply entrenched, multi-faceted & long-drawn to be overcome by any negotiations. I am sure you do understand the immediate reasons & as well as the historical perspectives.