Pak working overtime to counter India’s ‘greater role’ in Afghanistan
By ANITuesday, January 26, 2010
ISLAMABAD - In a bid to stonewall India’s ‘greater role’ in Afghanistan and prevent it from gaining a foothold in the war ravaged country, Pakistan has once again mobilised the defunct ’six-plus-two’ talks formula.
Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours: Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the US, are meeting today (Tuesday) in Turkey to discuss the situation in the country and take stock of measures for establishing peace in the troubled country.
Pakistan’s latest attempt to garner the support of its close neighbours it being viewed as an attempt to counter the US pressure regarding giving India a “greater role” Afghanistan.
Islambad has been objecting to New Delhi’s enhanced role in Afghanistan’s rehabilitation, saying that it should have limited role in that country.
“It is not possible for us to give India a role in Afghanistan as it is using Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan. Also, India has been traditionally aligned with Russia and played a part in the destruction of Afghanistan,” The Daily Times quoted sources privy to the Pakistan government, as saying.
The revival of the ’six plus two’ talk group, which also had Russia as its part but was later replaced by Britain, has come at a crucial point of time, when around 50 nations would be meeting at the London Conference on Thursday (January 28) to discuss the Afghan issue and deliberate on measures to help that nation.
The organisers of the London Conference, like the US and Britain, are trying to convince Pakistan on accepting the greater Indian role in Afghanistan.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke’s deputy, Paul Jones are expected to attend the summit besides other delegates from the participating countries.(ANI)
