India has come out in strong support of Afghan President Hamid Karzai following his spat with the US over its overtures to the Taliban by stating that the reconciliation process should not seek to create “equivalence” between the Afghan government and insurgent groups.
Reiterating its position on the need for a peace process that is “Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled”, the remarks backing Kabul come just days ahead of a visit by US secretary of state John Kerry. His visit comes in the backdrop of strained US-Afghan ties after a seething President Karzai decided to abruptly call off security talks with the US over its decision to hold peace talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.
Asked about the opening of an office in Doha, Qatar, by the Taliban, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Friday: “The reconciliation process should not seek to create equivalence between an internationally recognised government of Afghanistan and insurgent groups, confer legitimacy to insurgent groups or convey the impression of two competing state authorities for Afghanistan, which could undermine the legitimate Afghan state, Afghan government and the political, social and economic progress witnessed in Afghanistan over the past decade, to which the international community itself has contributed in great measure.” In stressing on the need for the peace process being “Afghan controlled,” New Delhi’s message to Washington is clear — that it does not want the process to become one that is US-led and one where Kabul is left out in the cold. Also, by articulating its support for President Karzai in such clear terms, New Delhi also sought to distance itself from the move by the Taliban to open a political office in Doha to which they appeared to give all the trappings of a “legitimate government.”
Prompting South Block to say that the statement made by the representatives in the Doha office “reflect some confusion about the name of the Qatar office, its structure, its political and legal status and its objectives.”
New Delhi also reiterated its position vis-a-vis the peace process, stressing that “India has always called for a broad-based Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled reconciliation process within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and the international accepted red lines.” In stressing on the need to stick to the red lines, New Delhi is also conveying to Washington its perception that these appear to be blurring along the way.
The statement further said that such a process “would necessarily recognise the centrality of the government of Afghanistan in the process and involve all sections of Afghan society as also the insurgent groups including the Taliban who wish to join the mainstream.”
Secretary Kerry, who will be on his maiden visit to India after taking over as his country’s top diplomat, will, incidentally be visiting Doha before he arrives in New Delhi on June 23. Expectedly, New Delhi would like to know from him what transpired during his discussions with the Qatari government.