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Op-Ed SEPTEMBER 03, 2021 | The Indian Eye 16

exit the uS, enter taliban?

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

ith no bases in neigh- the chinA chALLenge
boring countries and
Wdrone attacks more a U nsure about India’s
revenge play than a counter- assured second-strike
terrorism measure – aside from capability, especially
the fact they often hit innocents against China, some Indian ana-
as well as terrorists – there’s lysts, writes Menon, “believe that
little the US can do if Taliban India should change its no-first-
allows Afghanistan to again re- use policy and begin to think of
gress into an international ter- nuclear weapons as war-fight-
ror launchpad. In fact, even with ing weapons to compensate for
Pakistan’s so-called influence India’s conventional inferiority
over Taliban, militants from against China.” The assumption
across the Durand Line fired is that since nuclear powers do
and killed two Pakistani soldiers not go to war there is very little
on Sunday. possibility of a war between In-
So, a plateful of problems for icon by supporters of such an state. The mess in Afghanistan dia and China. However, if war
India. The biggest being it needs approach. These include “stra- has numerous manifestations. A happens, it would, at best, be a
to be prepared for the Pakistani limited border war.
military-ISI complex using the tegic patience” and not granting humongous humanitarian cri- The origin of this thinking
situation in Afghanistan to step “legitimacy”. While some mem- sis is unfolding, with countless that nuclear powers do not go
bers of the Indian foreign policy Afghans battling death, hunger
up anti-India terror activities. and strategic community now and displacement. to war lies in Cold War theology,
There are already reports of JeM seem willing to accept the need The shadow of reprisal where it was correctly believed
and LeT increasing their efforts for open contact with the Tali- hangs heavy over the nation as that the presence of nuclear
to push militants into Jammu weapons with the US and Rus-
and Kashmir. Clearly, there are ban by the government, others the Taliban, Afghanistan’s new sia prevented war between the
too many moving parts in Af- are not willing to go so far. masters, conduct a witch-hunt two blocs — NATO and Warsaw
The latter are suggesting against their opponents in spite
ghanistan today and therefore it out-of-sight contacts would be of an announcement of grant- Pact — which had divided the
would be best to adopt a wait- preferable. The external affairs ing general amnesty. world. Holding it as a truism for
and-watch approach to recog- minister has indirectly conced- These divisions in Af- all times to come, Indian analysts
nizing the incoming Taliban re- ed that there have been such ghanistan are being mir- – comprising policymakers, the
gime. The Indian ambassador military brass and retired senior
in Qatar yesterday met Sher contacts with the Taliban, if only rored in the deep chasms in officers – have superimposed this
Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, for functional reasons. the international fraternity. template on India. Hence, this
What is being overlooked is
Russia, China and Pakistan
head of Taliban’s political office that “strategic patience” can- have moved quickly to press popular narrative has emerged
in Doha, while the UNSC under not be an alibi for inaction. for international assistance — since the Ladakh 2020 stand-
India’s presidency has adopted The invocation of the British recognition? — for Afghan- off between India and China.
a resolution calling for Afghan Raj policy of “masterly inac- istan’s new overlords, while These assumptions — no
territory not to be used to shel- war, or a limited one between
ter terrorists. New Delhi must tivity” by some scholars de- India and the United States India and China — have neither
now work with Washington to fies logic for it applied in a of America are among sever- been analyzed nor war-gamed.
completely different context. al democratic countries that
draw red lines for Taliban, of- In any event, it accepted the have desisted from reaching out The reality is that let alone
fering recognition and invest- person who controlled Kabul. the hand of cooperation just the People’s Liberation Army
ments as incentives for fulfilling Vivek katju, yet. These fissures in the coa- (PLA), these assumptions do
anti-terror commitments. And not even hold true against the
hope that these incentives work. The Indian Express lition of global nations would, Pakistani military, whose capa-
editorial, A us FAiLure undoubtedly, affect Afghani- bilities, with China’s support,
The Times of India stan’s ground realities adversely. have increased substantially.
The challenge, therefore,
aving failed to midwife is for stakeholders, including Pravin sawhney,
the birth of a robust,
strAtegic PAtience Hinclusive democracy in competitors like India and Pa- The Wire

ndia continues to “wait Afghanistan, the United States kistan and the US and China, Every week, we look at what
and watch” Afghan devel- of America has now retreat- to arrive at a consensus to ush- the top commentators in the
Iopments. While it does so, ed from that war-scarred land er in stability in the country. Indian media are talking about
and bring to you a slice
many new terms are being add- after two decades, leaving the the editorial board, of their opinions and comments
ed to the Indian diplomatic lex- country in a far more chaotic Telegraph India

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