India, Pakistan in race to court Afghanistan
Saturday, 14 May 2011
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, May 13: Afghanistan accorded warm welcome to Indian Prime Minister Manmohon Singh who arrived Thursday promising to invest $500 million more on new projects bringing the total Indian contribution for the development to $2billion. India's new investments will be to improve infrastructure with a component earmarked for expansion of education. Manmohon Singh's visit to Kabul took place two weeks after a trip made by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani. The two visits, the diplomatic analysts say, indicate the intensity of competition between two nuclear power South Asian nations to establish a strategic toe-hold in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai is courting both the countries. It has been a difficult balancing act because they are fiercely antagonistic toward each other, the New York Times in a report said today. The Afghan president Hamid Karzai even when talking to Manmohon Singh said " Afghanistan wants a good relationship with Pakistan, a friendly and brotherly relationship. Karzai said Manmohon Singh holds the same view about the region. And our goal is to bring a peaceful and prosperous life for the people of the region, Karzai emphasised. India will help Afghanistan to construct a new building for the Parliament and improve its roads and electricity supply. Pakistan however suspects that India would use its presence in Afghanistan to spy on it.. Prime Minister of Pakistan Gillani also promised to help develop infrastructure and combat terrorism. Manmohon Singh's visit bears significance because it took place after the killing of Osama bin-Laden. Pakistan is goading Afghanistan to improve its ties with China lessening its reliance on America. Pakistan has also promised to train Afghanistan's military. Pakistan in the meanwhile is moving ahead with its plan to decrease its reliance on America. America has become more mistrustful of Pakistan since the killing of Osama. The United States is pushing hard Pakistan's army chief Kayani to break ties with other Taleban leadership. He faces mounting anti-American pressure from hardline generals in the top command. With United States readying itself to wind down in Afghanistan, Washington needs Pakistan more than ever. Without Pakistan's support America cannot win the battle in Afghanistan the analysts predict. General Kayani cannot ignore the sentiments of his soldiers said Riaz Khokar, who was Pakistan ambassador to Bangladesh and Pakistan's foreign secretary, said after meeting General Kayani. We dont want to be an enemy of America but our friendship with the US has not been pleasant, Khokor was quoted as saying by the NYT. General Kayani has visited several garrisons to calm the anger of the soldiers. E-mail: mumtazk43@juno.com
NEW YORK, May 13: Afghanistan accorded warm welcome to Indian Prime Minister Manmohon Singh who arrived Thursday promising to invest $500 million more on new projects bringing the total Indian contribution for the development to $2billion. India's new investments will be to improve infrastructure with a component earmarked for expansion of education. Manmohon Singh's visit to Kabul took place two weeks after a trip made by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani. The two visits, the diplomatic analysts say, indicate the intensity of competition between two nuclear power South Asian nations to establish a strategic toe-hold in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai is courting both the countries. It has been a difficult balancing act because they are fiercely antagonistic toward each other, the New York Times in a report said today. The Afghan president Hamid Karzai even when talking to Manmohon Singh said " Afghanistan wants a good relationship with Pakistan, a friendly and brotherly relationship. Karzai said Manmohon Singh holds the same view about the region. And our goal is to bring a peaceful and prosperous life for the people of the region, Karzai emphasised. India will help Afghanistan to construct a new building for the Parliament and improve its roads and electricity supply. Pakistan however suspects that India would use its presence in Afghanistan to spy on it.. Prime Minister of Pakistan Gillani also promised to help develop infrastructure and combat terrorism. Manmohon Singh's visit bears significance because it took place after the killing of Osama bin-Laden. Pakistan is goading Afghanistan to improve its ties with China lessening its reliance on America. Pakistan has also promised to train Afghanistan's military. Pakistan in the meanwhile is moving ahead with its plan to decrease its reliance on America. America has become more mistrustful of Pakistan since the killing of Osama. The United States is pushing hard Pakistan's army chief Kayani to break ties with other Taleban leadership. He faces mounting anti-American pressure from hardline generals in the top command. With United States readying itself to wind down in Afghanistan, Washington needs Pakistan more than ever. Without Pakistan's support America cannot win the battle in Afghanistan the analysts predict. General Kayani cannot ignore the sentiments of his soldiers said Riaz Khokar, who was Pakistan ambassador to Bangladesh and Pakistan's foreign secretary, said after meeting General Kayani. We dont want to be an enemy of America but our friendship with the US has not been pleasant, Khokor was quoted as saying by the NYT. General Kayani has visited several garrisons to calm the anger of the soldiers. E-mail: mumtazk43@juno.com