Pakistan: winning over Tehran and Kabul

[Neo]

Pakistan: winning over Tehran and Kabul

Mar 13, 2010
Afghanistan | Iran | Pakistan

iran pakistanAccording to the Iranian foreign minister, quoted by Press TV, this week’s visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad was related to plans for a trilateral summit between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The relationship between the three countries and potential influence on Afghanistan gets a lot less attention than the strained ties between India and Pakistan. But it’s worth watching closely for the way it can shape the regional competition for influence in Afghanistan ahead of an expected drawdown of U.S. troops in 2011.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in Kabul this week, and shortly afterwards Karzai flew to Islamabad.

Press TV quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying that while Karzai’s visit was “not directly linked” to President Ahmadinejad’s trip, it was related to a decision made during talks with the Iranian delegation about holding a trilateral summit in Islamabad. “I think based on the negotiation between Ahmadinejad and Karzai, he will also be in contact with President (Asif Ali) Zardari,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

Pakistan had long been suspicious of Iranian influence in Afghanistan, but has been making efforts recently to improve relations with Tehran. Its ambassador to Tehran suggested last month that Pakistan had helped in the capture of Jundollah Sunni rebel group leader Abdolmalek Rigi, who Iran had said was based in its Baluchistan province.

Karzai, meanwhile, after building a close relationship with India after the fall of the Pakistan-backed Taliban in 2001, made all the right noises in Islamabad about improving relations there. Islamabad says India has been using its presence in Afghanistan to destabilise Pakistan, particularly by backing a separatist revolt in Baluchistan (which operates separately from Jundollah) — a charge New Delhi denies. It looked sourly on Karzai’s close ties with New Delhi which it saw as underpinning a proxy war in Afghanistan between Pakistan and India which had spilled over from their long-standing dispute in Kashmir.

Speaking in Islamabad, Karzai said he did not want any country using Afghanistan against another. ”The bottom line is, Afghanistan does not want any proxy wars on its territory,” he said. “India is a close friend of Afghanistan but Pakistan is a brother of Afghanistan. Pakistan is a twin brother … we’re conjoined twins, there’s no separation.”

Karzai is keen to achieve some kind of reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban. But with Pakistan arresting Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and other Taliban leaders, it has made it clear that any reconciliation will need its help.

That puts it in a uniquely strong position to set the terms for any eventual political settlement with the Taliban – expected to include a requirement that India scale back its presence in Afghanistan. Getting Tehran on board in this rather complicated juggling act — if necessary by helping Iran crack down on Jundollah – would strengthen its hand further.

http://blogs.reuters.com/pakistan/20...ran-and-kabul/

[Neo]

'Karzai's Pakistan trip linked to trilateral talks'

Sat, 13 Mar 2010

Days after the Iranian president's visit to Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki explains whether the trip has had an influence on the Afghan president's trip made immediately afterwards to Pakistan.

Speaking to Press TV on Friday, the Iranian foreign minister said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Kabul had been scheduled only days after the presidential elections in Afghanistan.

Mottaki said the visit was aimed at "congratulating Mr.[Hamid] Karzai," "reviewing relations between Tehran and Kabul, reviewing the latest situation in Afghanistan," and "holding talks on security measures."

The Iranian minister went on to explain about the trip made by President Karzai to Pakistan immediately after the departure of the Iranian delegation, saying "it is the nature of relations between countries."

Mottaki said while the visit was "not directly linked" to President Ahmadinejad's trip, it was related to a decision made during talks with the Iranian delegation about holding a trilateral summit in Islamabad.

"I think based on the negotiation between Ahmadinejad and Karzai, he will also be in contact with President Zardari," the Iranian foreign minister said.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020101

[Selma Shirazi]

Difficult times for Indians, first she lost Iran and now Afghanistan seems to slip away. :o

[Mastankhan]

Hi,

That is what it is seems like on the surface, but truthfully, india is not going to take it lying low. They will be fighting a proxy war---tooth and nail to create a rift amongst the three against pakistan and try to come out of it the best.

[vinod2070]

Difficult times for Indians, first she lost Iran and now Afghanistan seems to slip away. :o

Don't worry about India! These little diplomatic games should not distract from the most important task that we have: building up our economy and lifting our people out of poverty. That is all that matters, not these silly diplomatic games and premature declarations of victory just because the USA needs you for a while now.

This obsession about India and the supposed difficult times for us is not going to resolve the serious domestic problems, nor will the continuous unending begging and doles from others resolve them. That needs serious hard work within the country and would always need that.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

Don't worry about India! These little diplomatic games should not distract from the most important task that we have: building up our economy and lifting our people out of poverty. That is all that matters, not these silly diplomatic games and premature declarations of victory just because the USA needs you for a while now.

Hmm sounds like sour grapes mate. If that was the case India should never have tried to contain Pakistan engaging a proxy war in Afghanistan, one she's starting to lose. Karzai's last visit to Pakistan made it clear that Kabul wants friendly ties with Pakistan and will not allow her territory to be used to fight a proxy war between India and Pakistan.
USA needs Pakistan to pave way for an exit from Afghanistan in July 2011 but will need us harder beyond that.

This obsession about India and the supposed difficult times for us is not going to resolve the serious domestic problems, nor will the continuous unending begging and doles from others resolve them. That needs serious hard work within the country and would always need that.

Obsession at your end isn't going to solve your domestic issues either. Nor is it going to kill poverty or malnutrition. But true beggar's in Delhi will continue to beg the world to block anything good that comes to Pakistan ignoring millions of poors and hungry that need immediate attention.

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Neo

Hmm sounds like sour grapes mate. If that was the case India should never have tried to contain Pakistan engaging a proxy war in Afghanistan, one she's starting to lose. Karzai's last visit to Pakistan made it clear that Kabul wants friendly ties with Pakistan and will not allow her territory to be used to fight a proxy war between India and Pakistan.
USA needs Pakistan to pave way for an exit from Afghanistan in July 2011 but will need us harder beyond that.

There has never been a single credible report anywhere, never any credible proof presented for this accusation.

On the other hand, there have been several credible reports that the Taliban is being financed by gulf and drug money.

Kabul allowing her territory to be used for anti Pakistan operation is a funny thing. They were anti Pakistan for their own reasons that ar well known. They have claims on your territory. They don't need anyone to provoke them to try and destabilize Pakistan, that will always happen whenever there is a stable government in Afghanistan. It has always been the case. They want to liberate the kabayalis East of the Durand line.

USA may need Pakistan for a safe exit for the short term, beyond that is anyone's guess.

Obsession at your end isn't going to solve your domestic issues either. Nor is it going to kill poverty or malnutrition. But true beggar's in Delhi will continue to beg the world to block anything good that comes to Pakistan ignoring millions of poors and hungry that need immediate attention.

Poverty and malnutrition is not an issue exclusive to India in South Asia. Billions are being spent on tackling the problem. So your contention is not correct.

India has never objected to civilian aid to Pakistan, only aid that is obviously going to be used for anti-India purposes. That only encourages the rogue elements to continue terror in the region.

You have read of the serving PA officers involved in the Karachi project, haven't you? That is what is encouraged when the likes of USA send you military aid, help maintain an unsustainable posture. Bad for Pakistanis most of all and bad for the world.

[Mastankhan]

Hi,

There never are credible reports for clandestine operations---if there were, then we would be having all out wars everywhere in the world. That is the reason clandestines operations are called by that name.

I mean to say, if they were not happening after mumbai attacks---I would say to RAW go put on some bangles and cover your head with sari paloo.

Proof is in the pudding---intel agencies don't put out a bulletin on the web that we have done such and such thing.

[vinod2070]

^^ For RAW to support the TTP (and for the TTP to work for India) would be strange, no?

For India it doesn't make sense to support people who will surely turn on India given the first opportunity. There have been credible reports that Baitullah was created by ISI. Many freelancer terrorists and local terror groups too turned on Pakistan because they felt that Pakistan was killing Muslims for the great shaitan.

Just take a look at some Islamist forums and you can see their support for these attacks on PA and Pakistani civilians.

I agree that India had to make Pakistan pay for the Mumbai massacre and RAW (or whoever is tasked with this) would be working towards that goal. I don't think that would take the form of supporting TTP terrorists though. TTP was hands in glove with our enemies, the Afghan Taliban. They were two sides of the same coin.

[vinod2070]

On the other hand for Afghan intelligence there would be all the reasons in the world to try to destabilize Pakistan. They have surely not forgotten the treatment at the hands of the Taliban, which they would surely blame Pakistan for.

I suspect most Pakistanis know that the problem was mostly internal but still want to find a scapegoat. After all no Muslim will ever kill a Muslim, even if video evidence suggests otherwise, that the suicidal terrorists openly claim that an Muslim who is not supporting them in Miramshah is worthy of being killed.