The Indian government has invested over $3 billion in the Afghanistan reconstruction effort since the last two decades, reports Asian Lite News
With the Taliban being joined by Pakistanis in Afghanistan in large numbers, their fighters have been instructed by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to target the Indian-built assets in the war-torn country, over the last many years.
The Indian government has invested over $3 billion in the Afghanistan reconstruction effort since the last two decades and the 218-km road between Delaram and Zaranj Salma dam; and the Afghan Parliament building which was inaugurated in 2015, are the biggest symbols of Indian contribution for the Afghan people.
As per estimates and inputs, more than 10,000 Pakistanis have entered the war zone in Afghanistan to openly support the Taliban’s offensive against the Ashraf Ghani-led Afghanistan government.
As per inputs, the Pakistani and the Taliban fighters there have been sent in with specific instructions to target the Indian built assets and remove any signs of Indian goodwill work there, government sources monitoring Afghanistan said.
India had made an immense contribution towards the education sector in Afghanistan and had played a big role in training their teachers and support staff.
The Pakistan-backed Islamic terrorist groups including the Haqqani network have been highly active for years against India there.
The Indian side is also in a fix on the issue of whether they would be allowed to retain its presence in Kabul as so far no assurance or indication has been given by the ultra-radical Islamist group which has been seen as opposed to India.
Indian agencies are also closely monitoring the situation at the Kabul airport which is not going to be under American guard for very long now. Many airfields under Americans including the Bagram air base which have been vacated due to the ongoing power tussle with the Taliban.
The Indian workers involved in civil works have also been asked to move out. Indian public sector company WAPCOS had some officials there for dam projects. India had recently also announced works worth around $350 million including the Shahtoot dam for providing drinking water to the city of Kabul.
Congress seeks answers
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has sharpened his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government asking about India’s perspective vis-à-vis Afghanistan at a time when the Taliban fighters are rapidly making advances in the war-torn country.
“Where’s that (Afghanistan) country going at the moment and what’s India’s perspective (on that). Our taxpayers’ $3 billion is invested in Afghanistan. Is that all going to go down the drain as the Taliban coming back to power? These are important questions,” he added.
Tharoor’s statement suggests that Congress is likely to focus on the government’s pandemic response and the Afghan issue during the Monsoon session.
Talks only option, says Jaishankar
Earlier, reflecting the urgency and concern over the developing situation in Afghanistan, India had said the world is “against seizure of power by violence and force”, and “peace negotiations in earnest are the only answer”.
This was spelt out by S Jaishankar at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in Dushanbe last week. Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov (Russia), Wang Yi (China) and Shah Mahmood Qureshi (Pakistan) were present at the meeting, among others.
In a series of tweets, Jaishankar said, “The world, region and the Afghan people all want the same end state: An independent, neutral, unified, peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation… The future of Afghanistan cannot be its past. A whole new generation has different expectations. We should not let them down.”
He added, “The world is against the seizure of power by violence and force. It will not legitimise such actions… An acceptable compromise that reflects the Doha process (talks in Qatar), Moscow Format (led by Russia) and Istanbul Process (an initiative of Turkey and Afghanistan) is essential.”
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