(The Hindu) IND – AFG : IN STEP WITH GHANI’s AFGHANISTAN

24th April 2015 

Ford Foundation

•  on watchlist of MHA
• Invoking section 46 of FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act)

IN STEP WITH GHANI’s AFGHANISTAN 

• April 27, 2015 : Prez Ashraf Ghani coming to India

 

• Feb’14 : India – Afg relation were on high
• (India committed 2 b$ development aid & request of 3 upgraded ‘Cheetal’ helicopters from Afg.)

 

•  (Feb’ 14 – Apr’15 ) Change : 

1. New govt. in Afg & Ind both
2. Change in relation of Afg. with Pak, Chn, & Iran after Hamid karzai

 

A. AFG – PAK 

• Dramatic shift in Afg.  foreign policy towards ISI in relation to its link with Taliban.
• Afg. invited pak Army chief & ISI Chief.
• Terror groups attacks in Pak, sharing information on terror.
• Ghani’s desire to restart talk with Taliban which will depend upon how much Pak. delivers in terms of persuading Talibani leaders.

B. AFG – CHINA

• Traditionally, China stayed away from internal arrangement in Afg.
• Feb’15 : China desired to play constructive role in Afg.
• Oct ‘ 14 : Ghani’s visit to china
• Adv for china :

1. Silk Route : To clear path to central Asia.
2. Securing energy supplies to China’s burgeoning needs.
3.  Gwadar – kashgar link along with linking Afg. – Pak. will boost trade along the route.

C. AFG – IRAN 

• P5 + 1 uplifting bans from June 30 (over Iran’s nuclear prog. )
• Economic landscape of Afg. will change with development of trade routes with Iran .

D. AFG – IND : GHani — > China (Oct. 14) —> Pakistan(Nov. 14) — > US (Mar. 2015) —> India  (Apr. 2015)

• Changing Scene : US Influence \/ , China influence /\

Three negatives fro Ind – Afg. : (measure to overcome)

1. Man-oeuvres against Pak’s terror threat
2. Measures cutting trade with Iran because of US sanctions
3. Moves countering China’s rise in neighborhood.

 

Final Policy decisions Reqd. from Ind:

1. Ind. govt. should move quickly on other requirements requests of helicopters, jeeps & academic training to security forces in Kabul.
2. Ind have to accept dialogue with pakistan on cooperating transit trade with Afg. This would strengthen Mr. Ghani’s request to Pak. to include india in APTTA (Afg. Pak transit & trade Agreement) – April 27 Talks will be done.
3.  Ind should revisit opposition to CHina’s Silk Route Project & play Key constructive role.
4. Mr. Ghani outlined Afg’s “FIVE CIRCLE FOREIGN”

• Neighbours
• Asian COuntries
• Islamic World
• Donor Countries
• International Instt.

 

Art. Ref. : In step with Ghani’s Afghanistan – http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/in-step-with-ghanis-afghanistan/article7134892.ece

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