India Must Secure Its Investments in Kabul

[Srinivas_K]

India Must Secure Its Investments in Kabul

The inauguration of a new agriculture university in Kandahar in Afghanistan marks a new milestone in India-Afghan ties. It is the first such institution in the landlocked nation set up with financial assistance from India. President Hamid Karzai considers the university as one of his legacies as Afghanistan elects its president in April next. Significantly, it is located in a farm from where Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden plotted 9/11. Since agriculture accounts for 60 per cent of Afghanistan's GDP and farmers use primitive methods of farming, the university can play as crucial a role as the Allahabad Agriculture institute played in India. The university is part of the $2 billion India invested in the infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

For a country that is not an international donor, the investment made in Afghanistan is substantial. Most of the $2 billion has gone into building roads and hospitals and educational institutions. Pakistan and the Taliban do not like India's presence in Afghanistan. In the past they had done everything possible to evict Indians, using tactics which can be described as only intimidatory. India enjoys considerable goodwill in Kabul, reflected from the fact that 614 people from Afghanistan have availed of Indian scholarships to study in Indian agriculture varsities. Similarly, there are police personnel who undergo training in India.

All the same there is little to suggest that Pakistan and the Taliban will change their line vis-a-vis India. India also has to factor in its relations with Kabul the fact that the American forces will soon be leaving Afghanistan. India's relations with Afghanistan are immemorial and they cannot be dependent upon what the US decides. Also, its investments are long-range in nature. All this suggests that India should think of having a presence whereby it can secure its investments and does not have to depend on other security agencies. In other words, India must have a stronger presence in Afghanistan.

India Must Secure Its Investments in Kabul - The New Indian Express

 

[feathers]

Taliban has clearly said that it doesn't consider India as enemy and even seeing the development and infrastructure which India is bringing for the people of Afghanistan. Afghans needs development and education because it will benefit the whole region and paved way for peace and security in the region.

 

[Srinivas_K]

Taliban has clearly said that it doesn't consider India as enemy and even seeing the development and infrastructure which India is bringing for the people of Afghanistan. Afghans needs development and education because it will benefit the whole region and paved way for peace and security in the region.

India supported Northern Alliance during afghan jihad, Taliban consists of mostly Pashtuns and NA consists of Takjik and other groups.

India is seen as a supporter of Northern Afghan groups, Diplomacy is the key to convince Taliban that India is there for the development and rebuilding of Afghanistan. At the same time India is also working to bring all the ethnic groups under single umbrella called ANA(Afghan National army)

Lot of diplomacy will be happening in the coming days!!

 

[feathers]

India supported Northern Alliance during afghan jihad, Taliban consists of mostly Pashtuns and NA consists of Takjik and other groups.

India is seen as a supporter of Northern Afghan groups, Diplomacy is the key to convince Taliban that India is there for the development and rebuilding of Afghanistan. At the same time India is also working to bring all the ethnic groups under single umbrella called ANA(Afghan National army)

Lot of diplomacy will be happening in the coming days!!

India started to give NA outside support because Taliban were completely brainwashed and if Taliban would have not allied with Pakistan then India would have not give even outside support to NA. Taliban are already convinced that India is not their enemy and they have learn this after seeing lot of death and destruction.

Afghans in the coming years will understanding what really unity means and the only country which can show them is India because its a multi religious and multi cultural country.

 

[Srinivas_K]

India started to give NA outside support because Taliban were completely brainwashed and if Taliban would have not allied with Pakistan then India would have not give even outside support to NA. Taliban are already convinced that India is not their enemy and they have learn this after seeing lot of death and destruction.

Afghans in the coming years will understanding what really unity means and the only country which can show them is India because its a multi religious and multi cultural country.

Correct!

Indian model works for any country. Since the world is meant to be a diverse one.

It is more of soft power projection by protecting the strategic interests. The goal is to win hearts and minds of people where ever India goes.

 

[arnabmit]

Where did you get this idea that Taliban are already convinced that India is not their enemy?

India started to give NA outside support because Taliban were completely brainwashed and if Taliban would have not allied with Pakistan then India would have not give even outside support to NA. Taliban are already convinced that India is not their enemy and they have learn this after seeing lot of death and destruction.

Afghans in the coming years will understanding what really unity means and the only country which can show them is India because its a multi religious and multi cultural country.

 

[feathers]

Where did you get this idea that Taliban are already convinced that India is not their enemy?

Taliban praises India for resisting U.S. pressure on Afghanistan - The Hindu

"No doubt that India is a significant country in the region... They are aware of the Afghans' aspirations, creeds and love for freedom.

"Indian people and their authorities are observing this illicit war for the last 12 years and they are aware of the Afghan nation and their demands," the statement said.

In the statement, the Taliban said it wanted to have cordial relations with India on the basis of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

 

[feathers]

Correct!

Indian model works for any country. Since the world is meant to be a diverse one.

It is more of soft power projection by protecting the strategic interests. The goal is to win hearts and minds of people where ever India goes.

India can help Afghanistan and all the other neighbors in the region if they all wants to work together in peace and security and this is the reason that India has always kept talks channel open with all the countries.

 

[Srinivas_K]

India can help Afghanistan and all the other neighbors in the region if they all wants to work together in peace and security and this is the reason that India has always kept talks channel open with all the countries.

True, The Challenge is to avoid confrontation and build.

 

[arnabmit]

That's because right now Indian stance is aligned with their interest. As soon as US troops leave, they would start screaming "Jihaad! Kill the Kafirs!".

Taliban praises India for resisting U.S. pressure on Afghanistan - The Hindu

"No doubt that India is a significant country in the region... They are aware of the Afghans' aspirations, creeds and love for freedom.

"Indian people and their authorities are observing this illicit war for the last 12 years and they are aware of the Afghan nation and their demands," the statement said.

In the statement, the Taliban said it wanted to have cordial relations with India on the basis of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

 

[feathers]

That's because right now Indian stance is aligned with their interest. As soon as US troops leave, they would start screaming "Jihaad! Kill the Kafirs!".

Here its the Taliban who has changed their stance towards India because of the death and destruction by which they have gone through because of the wrong decisions they have took.

 

[arnabmit]

If you say so. Let's wait for 1yr before I tell you "I told you so".

Here its the Taliban who has changed their stance towards India because of the death and destruction by which they have gone through because of the wrong decisions they have took.

 

[feathers]

If you say so. Let's wait for 1yr before I tell you "I told you so".

So just to show me, you will wait 1 year . Isn't it good that relations can be more good ? Its the biggest thing which the Indians have achieved in that land which is called the graveyard of all the big powers.

 

[arnabmit]

If wishes were Rs. I would have been a millionaire today.

So just to show me, you will wait 1 year . Isn't it good that relations can be more good ? Its the biggest thing which the Indians have achieved in that land which is called the graveyard of all the big powers.

 

[feathers]

If wishes were Rs. I would have been a millionaire today.

Ok then you wish me Rs.and i will wish you the same but Peace and harmony should be wished for everyone .

 

[Srinivas_K]

Despite fear of Taliban's rise, India starts projects in Afghanistan

Kandhar: In an attempt to root out terror, India and Afghanistan inaugurated a new agricultural university in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. The project which is part of India's 2 billion dollar development commitment to Aghanistan was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and will cost nearly 8 million dollars.
While the effort is welcome, the needs in the country are changing. With elections due in Apri, faltering talks with the Taliban, and the American pullout looming large over security concerns. Afghanistan wants India to provide tanks, helicopters, and small arms but India has resisted so far in the demand. The External Affairs minister has maintained that they are committed to their help to Afghanistan. "We are helping them with many issues including building highways, capacity building for their armed and police forces, etc. We are committed to them," Khurshid said.
In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, who will step down soon, said that he is not worried. Rather he termed the reports in the Western media to be false. "The security is good. The country will vote in elections. They will come out stronger now. What you hear in the western press is not true," he said.
But there are worries that the coming months will see the Taliban rise again aided by the ISI in Pakistan, that have also targeted the Indian embassy and projects in the country. "Taliban has no strength, it is these rogue countries like Pakistan and Iran that give it strength," said a worried resident.
There is also symbolism attached to this project. The area of Tarnak farms where the project has been inaugurated was once the headquarters of Osama Bin Laden and al Qaeda in Afghanistan. To that end, India is planting a thousand flowers, where terror once reigned.

Despite fear of Taliban's rise, India starts projects in Afghanistan