India hopes US will stay put in Afghanistan
The Indian strategic establishment, which does not visualise a dramatic pull out of US troops, said Indian initiatives have larger support.
By PR Ramesh, ET Bureau |
ADDIS ABABA: India, which is determined to step up its involvement in Afghanistan's reconstruction, hopes that the US will stay engaged in the troubled spot.
The Indian strategic establishment, which does not visualise a dramatic pull out of US troops, said Indian initiatives have larger support.
"The US is talking in terms of drawing down part of the surge. They may withdraw 30,000 troops, but the rest will stay put even after 2014. They will stay put till the Afghan national army and its police can take over security functions," said a top government source.
The Indian side is encouraging businesses to form consortia in Afghanistan so that risk can be shared. "The industry obviously calculates risk and benefits. There is acknowledgement that the higher the risk, the higher the benefits," an official said adding that it was for the industry to decide on how to do business in Afghanistan. "We can only facilitate...It is for them to take a call," noted the official.
The government backs the process of reconciliation undertaken by the Afghan government. Defending the policy, the source said reconciliation is not sharing of power between various insurgent groups. "It is being carried out by groups that have become part of the mainstream process."
The government is also pinning its hopes on changes in Afghan society to take the process forward. "It is not Afghanistan of 2001 though it still faces stiff challenges. But there are a lot of positive developments. Afghans are trying to sort out issues themselves. But it is still work in progress," the official said. India will work with Afghans for its reconstruction. "It is a difficult place, but at the same time, it is now a different place," the official said.
The Indian strategic establishment, which does not visualise a dramatic pull out of US troops, said Indian initiatives have larger support.
"The US is talking in terms of drawing down part of the surge. They may withdraw 30,000 troops, but the rest will stay put even after 2014. They will stay put till the Afghan national army and its police can take over security functions," said a top government source.
The Indian side is encouraging businesses to form consortia in Afghanistan so that risk can be shared. "The industry obviously calculates risk and benefits. There is acknowledgement that the higher the risk, the higher the benefits," an official said adding that it was for the industry to decide on how to do business in Afghanistan. "We can only facilitate...It is for them to take a call," noted the official.
The government backs the process of reconciliation undertaken by the Afghan government. Defending the policy, the source said reconciliation is not sharing of power between various insurgent groups. "It is being carried out by groups that have become part of the mainstream process."
The government is also pinning its hopes on changes in Afghan society to take the process forward. "It is not Afghanistan of 2001 though it still faces stiff challenges. But there are a lot of positive developments. Afghans are trying to sort out issues themselves. But it is still work in progress," the official said. India will work with Afghans for its reconstruction. "It is a difficult place, but at the same time, it is now a different place," the official said.
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