India to increase cooperation with Central Asian countries over Afghan issue and against terrorism

New Delhi: – Both sides have agreed to provide urgent assistance to the people of Afghanistan, take a firm stand against terrorism and expand India’s cooperation on all fronts in Central Asia. In the India-Central Asia Dialogue held in New Delhi, the Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian countries shared a common position on trade, connectivity and capacity building, along with the Afghanistan issue. Foreign Minister Jaishankar expressed confidence that India’s cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan will reach new heights.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference was held in Pakistan. Using this conference, Pakistan is trying to further its position in Afghanistan. At the same time, Pakistan’s struggle to get support from OIC members has not gone unnoticed. Under such circumstances, the Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have sent their Foreign Ministers for the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi. Some Pakistani journalists have accused India of deliberately holding the conference to jolt Pakistan.

India and Central Asian countries have taken a common stance on Afghanistan and decided to provide immediate assistance to the Afghan people. At the same time, the conference stressed that Afghanistan’s land should not be used for terrorism. This is another blow to Pakistan. Along with Central Asian countries, Russia and Iran also support the Indian stand regarding Afghanistan. As a result, Pakistan, which had been claiming that the Indian influence in Afghanistan has come to an end, with the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, has become disillusioned.

India will soon recognize the Taliban. Besides, India has taken steps alongside Russia, Iran, and Central Asian countries, claiming senior Pakistani journalists. This seems to have baffled Pakistan. If India recognizes the Taliban before Pakistan or provides substantial assistance to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the Taliban will certainly remember it. These Pakistani journalists say that India will benefit greatly from this in the future. Pakistani analysts point out that after India supplied essential medicines, a Taliban leader referred to Pakistan as their worst enemy.

Despite all this, Pakistan will not recognize the Taliban regime before India. Because if that happens, the accusation that Pakistan assisted the Taliban to acquire power in Afghanistan will be proved. Pakistan will then be held responsible for the activities of the Taliban. Pakistani analysts are saying that this is why Pakistan, despite the resentment of the Taliban, is not deciding to recognize the Taliban rule.

However, the Pakistani analysts have admitted that India has demonstrated statesmanship to derive benefit from the situation and has trapped Pakistan in a gorge.