Washington: India wants to deny Pakistan strategic depth in Afghanistan and ensure its interests are not attacked there but has little interest in inflaming Islamabad's sentiments by playing a large security role, a Congressional report has said, terming Kabul's handling of its two crucial neighbours a 'delicate balancing act'.The report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), an independent research wing of the US Congress, which prepares periodic reports to help Congressmen make informed decisions, also details how India's activities in the country are "inverse" of Pakistan and how New Delhi is wary of the reconciliation efforts with the Taliban."The interests and activities of India in Afghanistan are the inverse of those of Pakistan: India's goals are to deny Pakistan 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan, to deny Pakistan the ability to block India from trade and other connections to Central Asia and beyond, and to prevent militants in Afghanistan from attacking Indian targets in Afghanistan," said the latest Afghan report by CRS.
Also wary of the recent reconciliation efforts with the Taliban, which will give Pakistan more influence in Afghanistan, India in the recent past has stepped up contact with Northern Alliance, which it supported in the past, says the report.
"India saw the Afghan Taliban's hosting of Al Qaeda during 1996-2001 as a major threat to India itself because of Al Qaeda's association with radical Islamic organisations in Pakistan, such as LeT....," the report said.
Afghanistan has sought close ties to India but without alarming Pakistan: a delicate balancing act backed by the United States,
... contd.
