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Noting that from New Delhi's perspective, "Af-Pak" debate was all about the "Pak", the prestigious 'Foreign Policy' in its latest issue said that in the recently held London conference on Afghanistan, India was the lone voice of dissent.
It was the only country which argued that there can be no distinction between a good and a bad Taliban, wrote Kapil Komireddi, in an article titled "Indian Motion" published in Foreign Policy.
"As representatives from more than 60 countries convened at the historic Lancaster House, New Delhi's representative to the summit, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, emphasised to his British counterpart that it would be a monumental folly, at this juncture, to make a distinction "between a good Taliban and a bad Taliban" or to legitimise the former through reaching out," it said.
From India's perspective, he said, because the Taliban was originally an extension of Pakistan's intelligence agency and because it has been used by Islamabad to mount attacks against India, there can be no "good Taliban".
Besides, the wild popularity of Indian cinema and TV shows in Afghanistan means that India enjoys a soft-power edge over every other country currently engaged there.
Unsurprisingly, in the most recent opinion poll, India emerged with the highest favourability rating of any country involved in Afghanistan: 74 per cent, the article said.
"Yet in the endless debates focusing on Afghanistan, India's role in the region had usually been ignored by United States and Europe - often deliberately, as New Delhi was quick to point out, in order to appease Pakistan," Komireddi argued.
"Washington was keenly aware of the benefits that New Delhi brings to Afghanistan. But so far it has been wary of openly embracing India as a partner," he said.
India, the only stable secular democracy in the region he noted, was being actively prevented from helping in Afghanistan in order to appease the Pakistani regime, lest it re-enact the carnage that was visited upon Mumbai in 2008 and the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2008 and 2009.
"Which raises the question: Is the US objective in Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, or is it to secure the country for Pakistan? To New Delhi, the answer looks increasingly like the latter," the author said.
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of course there are GOOD and NO-GOOD Talibans, the Good talibans are those who are ready to receive more bribe from the Americans and allow them to build the oil pipe lines from the Caspian and the allow americans to set up military bases in Afghanistan and the bad Taibans are ready to fight to the finish to drive out the americans from where they came from as the Vietnamese did in the 1970s. India is wrong in not have that perception. Neo colonial policy works exactly the same way as the old colonial policy that is DIVIDE AND RULE. Afghansitan is a tribal mess, neither americans nor India can bring forced changes, leave them alone and help them if possible to have better education, infrastructure, exposure and health and eventually they will join the worlds cultural main stream, but using arms to change is not going to work
Rogue is a rogue.How can there evr be a good taliban and a bad taliban.US should look at Paks report card.They took money from USA and gave it to Taliban-Al Quaida,They bought arms free of cost from USA and supplied to Taliban-AlQuaida,There Scientist ran a Nuclear shop with connivance or tacit approval of Pakistan.Yet if you form your Afghan policy to appease Pak May God Help You
IT IS HIGH TIME THIS SPINELESS " DYNASTY RULERS " WAKE UP AND PROTECT INDIA FROM TERRORIST STATE LIKE PAKI. LAND . DON'T PUT ALL EGGS IN ONE BASKET . AMERICANS AND EUROPE ARE TWO MOST SELFISH PARTNERS IN WAR AGAINST TERROR . MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS PROVED IT .INDIA AND OTHER FRIENDLY COUNTRIES SHOULD SUPPORT AND CORT RUSSIA WHO IS TIME TESTED FRIEND AND ALLY . WAKE UP INDIA.
Monumental mistakes have been made in the past, resulting in dire historical consequences. The US and Europe are aware, but choose this route of fawning Pakistan for obvious reasons. EVERY INDIAN SHOULD WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON OTHER NATIONS TO DO OUR DIRTY WORK FOR US. GROW UP INDIA AND BE A MAN FOR A CHANGE.