P. K. Balachandran
For Pakistan, what was a “one-front war” with India in May, got complicated in October, with a “hot war” being fought with Afghanistan on its Western borders and a “war of words” with India in the East.
Before long, Pakistan could face a “two-front hot war” with Afghanistan and India if efforts are not quickly made to cool tempers in Pakistan and India.
Even as the Pakistan air force and ground troops were attacking bases of the Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, Pakistan accused India of aiding and abetting the Afghan Taliban and the TTP. Pakistan had, for long, been charging India of colluding with the Afghan Taliban.
Muttaqi’s Presence in India
But what provoked the latest barrage of accusations against India was the presence of the Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in India where the red carpet was rolled out for him.
India assured Muttaqi of economic aid and the upgrading of the status of the Indian mission in Kabul albeit without formal recognition. In return, Muttaqi supported India on the question of Jammu and Kashmir, angering Pakistan which disputes India’s claim to this State.
Pakistan concluded that Afghanistan and India were in cahoots and a decision was taken to deliver a punishing blow to Afghanistan that had been allegedly supporting the TTP.
Observers did not fail to notice that Pakistan conducted its first air strike against Afghanistan even as Muttaqi was talking to the Indians in New Delhi. The opening salvo was telling as it was aimed at Kabul, the Afghan capital, and the target was a TTP leader, Noor Wali Mehsud.
No comments:
Post a Comment