The Great Afghan Game

Engaging with a Multi-Polar World

Our foreign diplomacy has been entangled in crude games since its birth. And it gets complex inversely proportional to the distance with the neighbour! When we see Indian diplomacy shaking its frail hands with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, it is sending some ubiquitous messages world over. We plead him not to associate with Taliban, whether good or bad ones. 

Beneath this request, there is an apparent intention to cut down the wings of Pakistan in this game. But United States has already nodded yes to the alliance with Taliban. And Karzai perceives Pakistan as its 'conjoined twin'. So where do we stand ? We have invested already a huge some of money and manpower in Afghanistan over the period of three years. And we have plunged into a 'No Man's Land'.

Hamid Karzai is in a venture to prove his statesmanship in an around the South East Asian region. This is his deft move following the discord with his former Western Allies including US and European Union. So he may not want to displease either India or Pakistan. And that offers a solace to Indian think tanks.

Thus in this juncture, instead of cautioning Hamid Karzai about Taliban and Pakistan, India should engage in a developmental discourse with him and explore the ways to harmonize the interests between the two nations, specifically in the field of energy.

Gokul B. Alex

'clarity is rhythm'