tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post2905809862142190164..comments2024-03-14T06:10:14.591-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Afghan president seems to favour Pakistan over IndiaBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-47698806092493080032010-12-21T18:29:18.718-08:002010-12-21T18:29:18.718-08:00@ kulari94 (21 December 2010 12:08)
Precisely.
Af...@ kulari94 (21 December 2010 12:08)<br />Precisely. <br />Afghanistan is important to us as it is the door way to Central Asia (CA). It has long land borders with and therefore direct access to 3 of the 5 CA nations. CA is vital for our future energy needs and a friendly government in Afghanistan permits trade and transit. It also denies so called 'Strategic depth' to Pakistan and curtails Chinese influence in that vital part of the world. <br />Contrary to some posters here, Pakistan is not the only key player here. The other two are Russia and Iran. We have allowed our friendly relations with Iran to be downgraded by submitting to USA. This has to be corrected immediately. A friendly Iran is totally vital to us to counter Pakistan's influence in OIC, for support for membership to Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a host of other issues. Chabahar port should be completed earliest as that is our entry point into the region. Russia calls the shots in CA and is vital to India and we have to be conscious to Russian sensitivities. <br />At the end of the day we simply have to put troops on the ground, whatever the grounds or the pretext maybe, to convince everyone relevant to Afghanistan/CA that we are serious stakeholders in that region. Only then will we be taken seriously.P Mukherjeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-74471491652527723612010-12-21T08:47:35.428-08:002010-12-21T08:47:35.428-08:00India needs military presence in Afghanistan as we...India needs military presence in Afghanistan as well as re-build its relations with the Pathans (Pashtuns) and re-enforcing our relations with the other Afghani communities. In short, we need to play the role of power balancer there. Afghanistan is historically, culturally and strategically important to India and there can be no peace in India if there is no peace there or for that matter, in Pakistan as well. We need to be proactive in our striving for peace in our neighbourhood and our country and our society has to shed its disappointing attitude towards the military and diplomatic corps.We need to be ready to contribute and make sacrifices if needed, for the sake of peace in the Indian sub-continent.Achintya Nath Sexenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11704532211883804257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-70284002562180858362010-12-21T08:41:11.381-08:002010-12-21T08:41:11.381-08:00An Indian military presence in Afghanistan is defi...An Indian military presence in Afghanistan is definitely needed and it is high time India thinks seriously about it. Otherwise we risk losing Afghanistan to anti-India forcesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-73511066212108448752010-12-20T22:38:52.616-08:002010-12-20T22:38:52.616-08:00P Mukherjee:
I don't think anonymous picked u...P Mukherjee:<br /><br />I don't think anonymous picked up on your sarcasm, and neither did I. But now that you've clarified your position, I agree with you. <br /><br />India needs a strong military presence in Afghanistan. I don't know if the US government realizes it, but a stronger Indian military presence in Afghanistan IS in the USA's interest.kulari94noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-53267402922837345432010-12-20T19:32:29.952-08:002010-12-20T19:32:29.952-08:00No need to worry about Afghanistan till USA is the...No need to worry about Afghanistan till USA is there. Worry about Pakistan. If possible break-up Pakistan into tiny bits. That should/must be the policy India needs to pursue till end. As shown by history, Islamic invaders have always started invasion by taking over weak kingdoms first and then wait till the strongest became weak internally either because of corrupt and ignorant Monarchs. Indian Strategic Community experts need to make plans to implode Pakistan internally, even with the threat of Nukes looming large. The Muslim Nukes will always haunt us whether Pakistan survives as a Nation or not. Hence we need to take action sooner rather than later. Looking at how the Indian Politician are ignorant about the systematic progress being made by China and now Sri-Lanka, and internal divisive politics preached by Digvijay and Congress, I doubt this nation can think clearly for a solution to neutralize external threats. Most likely the attempt will be to bid for time and prepare for a self-defeating defensive strategy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-6734261358697648982010-12-20T17:46:40.407-08:002010-12-20T17:46:40.407-08:00What's wrong in India giving money to the Afgh...What's wrong in India giving money to the Afghans. It is the <br />solemn duty of the Hindus to pay <b>JIZIYA</b> to the Muslims. They have been doing so for 1000 years now. Kaangress is just continuing the duty.Digvijay Singhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-83464556252615279332010-12-20T14:03:00.682-08:002010-12-20T14:03:00.682-08:00oops...indeed an egg or two on my face...i seemsed...oops...indeed an egg or two on my face...i seemsed to have missed a decade...apologies. <br /><br />The NA has been desperate to make peace with pak. They have done all they can....and met the conditions pak laid down for them...which is back away from india, make no statements against pak and secure their side of the border...which they have. Furthermore the countries to the north of Afghanistan are desperate for pak to help them control the mujhaddeen+talibans. Otherwise they are gone...their populations are waking up!!! This is what russia fears, but is powerless to do anything. If it does, it knows it will get sucked in and will again be defeated. The indians don't really count in this game. why: no land border; are not trusted by iranians or russians completely....and india is lacking one other critical thing...big balls. The chinese don't have them either but they are piggy backing onto pak....smart guys!!! I will tell you what i have said many times before, india will have no real say in the central asian space without the consent of pak.Mertznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-23220473715559932162010-12-20T06:08:18.597-08:002010-12-20T06:08:18.597-08:00@Anonymous(20 December 2010 05:03)
Hahahaha, simp...@Anonymous(20 December 2010 05:03)<br /><br />Hahahaha, simply because I express my disgust of our weak kneed and effeminate approach towards Afghanistan in particular and Central Asia in general, you are provoked into calling me a Paki? And that too from a guy who does not dare to name himself, now isn't that amazing. <br />We were dead right in identifying Afghanistan as being strategically crucial to our interests. Now we are inches away from throwing it all away. All I am saying is that the time has come to put our money where our mouth is.<br />Is that too difficult to comprehend or does that entitle me to further damnation?P Mukherjeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-89658075373681209702010-12-20T05:54:07.466-08:002010-12-20T05:54:07.466-08:00It is an ill-conceived policy targeted not on Afgh...It is an ill-conceived policy targeted not on Afghanistan but Pakistan, which is bound to fail. What strategic interests do we have there? Spend billions on education and infrastructure in own country instead. We lack any staying power in such Big game scenario and that is a fact. Afghanistan will never return to the friendly neighbor in near future. GOI and its foreign ministry mandarin must know when to pull their hands out. Will it not be worth the effort to invest in central Asian republics instead??? KKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-65692742331301055932010-12-19T19:32:57.407-08:002010-12-19T19:32:57.407-08:00Mertz-
Mullah Omar created the Taliban around ear...Mertz-<br /><br />Mullah Omar created the Taliban around early to mid 1994. He had christened his organization "Taliban" around then. <br /><br />He captured almost whole of the Kandahar province by the end of 1994... before spreading the cancer further.<br /><br />So, you may want to check the facts first. But then again, this comment is in line with the information in your other comments.. so no surprises :)<br /><br />Cheers.Heberiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-34444070843341817732010-12-19T15:33:20.125-08:002010-12-19T15:33:20.125-08:00Ajaiji, why you allowing pakis to be named as Indi...Ajaiji, why you allowing pakis to be named as Indian to post like 'P Mukherjee'? It is not difficult for you to understand that he is a paki?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-60049432036365187042010-12-19T15:19:18.127-08:002010-12-19T15:19:18.127-08:00Sir, any update on P-15A and IAC?Sir, any update on P-15A and IAC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-85517792491976252082010-12-19T06:44:21.964-08:002010-12-19T06:44:21.964-08:00As it was supposed to be a historical duty of arab...As it was supposed to be a historical duty of arabianized Afghans to intervene in to India, which resulted in formation of Pakistan. So in turn now it is the duty of India to intervene in Afghanistan to stop the existence of Pakistan for the sake of long standing peace and regional power balance in Asia.<br /><br />Unfortunately similar actions were taken by outsider forces like USSR and USA, so they failed.<br /><br />The day American forces go out, Karzai himself will be taking shelter back in America and heading a defunct government in exile. He can not withstand the onslaught of the Talibani-Paki axis.<br /><br />All the concerned neighbors shall be made aware of such an eventuality and India and CIS nations actively helping Northern Alliance and Hazara shall encircle Kandhar and also blockade the naval routes to Karachi. For better results the routes joining Sino with pak can be blasted if the need be. This is to be continued till the Talibani-Paki axis is completely decimated.<br /><br />If somehow this is not done immediately after the withdrawal of Karzai, then Talibani-Paki axis will naturally and obviously attempt to expand and create all damages on their eastern front, so much so that India may find it difficult to digest and think in terms of severe alternatives.Mr. Ranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-80173172471561777282010-12-19T02:28:45.943-08:002010-12-19T02:28:45.943-08:00Mertz!
The Taliban didn't exist in 1996? It&#...Mertz!<br /><br />The Taliban didn't exist in 1996? It's a good thing that you publish only on the internet. In the real world, you would have egg all over your face.<br /><br />The Taliban took over Kandahar in 1994, Kabul in 1996, and fled Kabul on 13th Nov 2001.<br /><br />Btw, I was there in Kabul the day they left.Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-14584836264497968282010-12-19T01:17:52.375-08:002010-12-19T01:17:52.375-08:00What else can he do?? Is India willing to provide...What else can he do?? Is India willing to provide military aid? He has to side with the pakis to save his a$$!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-24874416574458362142010-12-18T23:31:25.397-08:002010-12-18T23:31:25.397-08:00Evidently, Taliban and India's reluctance to b...Evidently, Taliban and India's reluctance to be more invested are reasons enough to cozy up to Pakistan. But I wonder what role China's extensive investments in Afghanistan may have played in helping force this outcome. <br /><br />India seems to have been successfully outmaneuvered by the tag team of Pakistan/China. Have we locked ourselves out of our northern neighbourhood for good?<br /><br />http://bharat-2020.blogspot.com/A Kumarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05683543890824867456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-13457711188097410002010-12-18T22:42:18.296-08:002010-12-18T22:42:18.296-08:00Abdullah Abdullah is was our only hope but he was ...Abdullah Abdullah is was our only hope but he was 'defeated'.Karzai and his brother is worse than Raja any day of the year.We have to go beyond our humanitarian policy and build a more covert power by having a clean and credible opposition to Karzai.Its India's responsibility towards the Afghan people to help them help us.Recently released documents and books suggests to the fact that the Afghans doesn't believe in fighting for a government that is headed by Karzai.Nitheshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10057927088662833249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-9645393193568954652010-12-18T21:38:10.952-08:002010-12-18T21:38:10.952-08:00What can India do besides offering rusting T-55 an...What can India do besides offering rusting T-55 and training to afghans from a military angle?Ben - Yours trulyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07594456179410909178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-56052214816182780722010-12-18T21:14:07.666-08:002010-12-18T21:14:07.666-08:00Goat presents herself to wolves !!!Goat presents herself to wolves !!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-62125935319626586152010-12-18T17:04:13.832-08:002010-12-18T17:04:13.832-08:00As long as our PM who unfortunately is a Sikh, sto...As long as our PM who unfortunately is a Sikh, stop thinking about the prosperity of Pakistan and start thinking like a real leader who can ensure the safety, progress and prosperity of the People of India, nothing is going to change. If he is a real leader, the first thing he must have realized is that how to destroy a fundamentalist, terrorist nation that's a threat to the Indian nation and the people of India. But our PM lack any vision and courage to further India's interest using crooked methods.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-69539390505147042572010-12-18T15:49:36.509-08:002010-12-18T15:49:36.509-08:00It should not come as a surprise that the Afghan p...It should not come as a surprise that the Afghan president wants to save his skin, hence wants to make a deal with the Pakistanis & Pashtuns.<br /> <br />Hamd Karzai alone is of no use to us. <br /><br />We need to build the real power brokers. The Northern Alliance. It is a given that the US will give Afghanistan to PA. Once the US leave, the Taliban with PA regulars will over run Afghanistan. <br /><br />There is no need to have physical military presence in Afganistan. Spend money to arm the anti-Taliban to the teeth. If Pakistan, which is a failed state, can sustain the Taliban, India can do better.<br /><br />Build up the Northern Alliance forces. Arm them heavily. Have a deal with the northern 'stan' countries to base either Indian/Russian jets to assist Northern Alliance forces if Taliban forces attack.<br /><br />We are trying to preserve a unnatural nation. The non-Pashtuns will never reconcile with Pashtuns and vice versa. To bring peace, they need to be separated. If this means division of Afghanistan. So be it. Who gives a damn if Afghanistan is broken into 10 or 100 pieces. Divide the Afghanistan into Pashtuns and non-Pashtun region. Declare that non-Pashtun regions will have military backing from Russian, Indian forces(if US wants to join let them).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-29937973197500049032010-12-18T13:44:59.207-08:002010-12-18T13:44:59.207-08:00Do you realise the Taliban didn't exist in 199...Do you realise the Taliban didn't exist in 1996? A quick check of facts would have been a good idea.Mertznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-78829078322456654302010-12-18T11:11:33.116-08:002010-12-18T11:11:33.116-08:00I think Karzai was always softer to Pakistan and t...I think Karzai was always softer to Pakistan and that is why he was installed as President. However whenever any impasses emerges, India can always play the Northern Alliance card, this time more strongly and more pro-actively.Mr. Ranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-47833577309427069872010-12-18T10:23:33.060-08:002010-12-18T10:23:33.060-08:00It's about time this corrupt drug-dealer was b...It's about time this corrupt drug-dealer was booted off. He doesn't even have a power base in Kabul, forget all of Afghanistan. To the Americans, he is just the lesser of evils there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-73702955004811619602010-12-18T09:31:22.043-08:002010-12-18T09:31:22.043-08:00We do not have either the Russians or the Iranians...We do not have either the Russians or the Iranians with us and we can not or we will not exercise the option of standing on our feet.What the hell are we doing in Afghanistan anyway. We should run away from there with our tail between our legs while we still can, while the Americans are still there to prevent whole scale slaughter of Indians. Total, utter and absolute failure of our foreign policy which will cost us very dear in Kashmir and South Asia.P Mukherjeenoreply@blogger.com