Karzai shows signs of ‘protecting’ democratic institutions
17 Feb 2014 12:59 AM GMT
According to a source in the ministry of external affairs the fact lies in the root of New Delhi’s unqualified support to him in terms of taking time in concluding the BSA.
Though Karzai is expected to step down from the presidency of the country in April after a new election elects a president, he is widely expected to maintain some influence in the immediate future of the embattled country.
Meanwhile, Indian government is keeping a close watch on the developments of the South Asian country. It feels, the ministry source said that even if there is turmoil in the country after the exit of the US-led, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in end-this year, with the Taliban incursion into the country, the Afghan National Army (ANA) will still be able to hold the fort at least for a while.
And, in that scenario, Rawalpindi may not be able to get a much coveted free-run or ‘strategic depth’ it desires in its western neighbour. While New Delhi has not committed to provide heavy military equipment to the ANA, despite Karzai’s yearning for it, it still wishes to keep its ‘options’ open for the future.
Meanwhile, at a video-linked live discussion on Afghanistan between Moscow and the Indian capital organised on Friday afternoon, organised by the Russian Information Office, Andrei Kazantsov, the director of the Russian think-tank Institute of International Studies’ Analytical Centre clearly articulated his country’s position on the issue.
Responding to a question, Kazantsov articulated the Russian government’s position on the issue. According to him, Russian troops will not enter into Afghanistan under any circumstances. But it will keep a close eye on the developments in the adjacent Central Asian Republics like Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where a direct influence of Taliban and al Qaeda operations would create turbulence.
The Russian expert said that they look to its trilateral exchange with India and China on Afghanistan very seriously. It also feels that it will have to get involved in the protection of members of Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), an international organisation between six countries: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Russia.
Though Karzai is expected to step down from the presidency of the country in April after a new election elects a president, he is widely expected to maintain some influence in the immediate future of the embattled country.
Meanwhile, Indian government is keeping a close watch on the developments of the South Asian country. It feels, the ministry source said that even if there is turmoil in the country after the exit of the US-led, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in end-this year, with the Taliban incursion into the country, the Afghan National Army (ANA) will still be able to hold the fort at least for a while.
And, in that scenario, Rawalpindi may not be able to get a much coveted free-run or ‘strategic depth’ it desires in its western neighbour. While New Delhi has not committed to provide heavy military equipment to the ANA, despite Karzai’s yearning for it, it still wishes to keep its ‘options’ open for the future.
Meanwhile, at a video-linked live discussion on Afghanistan between Moscow and the Indian capital organised on Friday afternoon, organised by the Russian Information Office, Andrei Kazantsov, the director of the Russian think-tank Institute of International Studies’ Analytical Centre clearly articulated his country’s position on the issue.
Responding to a question, Kazantsov articulated the Russian government’s position on the issue. According to him, Russian troops will not enter into Afghanistan under any circumstances. But it will keep a close eye on the developments in the adjacent Central Asian Republics like Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where a direct influence of Taliban and al Qaeda operations would create turbulence.
The Russian expert said that they look to its trilateral exchange with India and China on Afghanistan very seriously. It also feels that it will have to get involved in the protection of members of Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), an international organisation between six countries: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Russia.
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