AFGHAN-INDIA 2LST

India is currently engaged in public diplomacy to reach
out to various sections of the Afghan society through
developmental projects.
On the attack on two Kabul hotels which housed Indians,
the sources said there was a "fairly authentic" information
about involvement of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Describing LeT and Taliban as outfits "morphed" with each
other, they said the Kabul attack had shown that LeT was
working beyond India, a country which was the sole target of
the outfit when it was created.
LeT has been steadily expanding its reach and needs to
be fought at international level, the sources underlined.
Denying reports about India opening channels with
Taliban, they said it was "too early to take a stand" on it
when the military campaign by the US-led forces was underway
and there was a "war-like" situation.
The sources pointed out that India sees Taliban as an
"antagonist" and "protagonist" outfit which was on the "dark
side" of history.
With regard to fight against Taliban, the sources said
India does not visualise the US or NATO forces leaving
Afghanistan in the near future.
They said Taliban needs to be tackled and the situation
in Afghanistan needs to stabilise before US or NATO can leave.
In this regard, the sources noted that the result of the
military campaign of the US-led forces underway in Helmand and
the one proposed to be launched in Kandahar would be crucial
before India takes a stand on Taliban.
On talk about "reintegration" of Taliban, the sources
said it was for President Hamid Karzai to handle it. There are
also aspects like how the US views this process and what role
Pakistan should have in it.
However, the US is clear that this process should not be
outsourced to Pakistan. This is despite the fact that the US
needs Pakistan while dealing with terrorism and extremism.
So, India does not see Pakistan controlling the situation
in Afghanistan.
Britain is said to be open to the idea of talking to the
extremist militia but India has conveyed its concerns about
it. PTI