China, Iran beat India in ties with Taliban, says journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai
Journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai is considered to be a commanding authority on Af-Pak affairs, having reported on the volatile region of Afghanistan and Pakistan for over 30 years. Rahimullah was the first journalist to report on Taliban in 1994-95 and is famous for his rare interviews with Taliban chief Mullah Omar and the last ever interview of Osama bin Laden. He is currently the editor of The News International in Peshawar and is an op-ed writer for the monthly Newsline.
In New Delhi this week for the South Asia Editors’ Conference, Rahimullah shared his thoughts with dna’s Hakeem Irfan on the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2014 and its repercussions on India .dna: Will Afghanistan Taliban train its guns on India after the scheduled withdrawal of NATO forces in 2014?Rahimullah Yusufzai: I don’t think so. Indian academicians, media and policy makers are trying hard to create this notion. Taliban won’t be free after 2014 just to roam the region. In fact they need more manpower within Afghanistan to control the country. Besides, foreign troops will not withdraw completely. A minimum of 10,000 foreign troops will remain on different pretexts. dna: Why is India worried then?RY: The Indian government and policy makers think that the NATO drawdown is a premature move, and the U.S. is leaving without completing its job. They are not even happy about the opening of a Qatar office for negotiations as well. But India cannot afford to go against the tide.India fears that Pakistan will get better strategic depth post 2014. They are concerned that Afghanistan will be used by Pakistan to train fighters for Kashmir. But Afghan Taliban has never shown interest in fighting in Kashmir. dna: What about Pakistan Taliban? Are they interested in Kashmir?RY: Pakistan Taliban may have sympathies with Kashmir, but Pakistan government will want Kashmir movement to be in its control. Pakistan Taliban is fighting the Pakistan Army, the ISI and over all, the government. They cannot afford to help the agenda of the government itself in Kashmir. dna: Is India trying to get in touch with Afghanistan Taliban for future ties?RY: I don’t think so. But China, which has invested $3 billion in Afghanistan, is already doing so. Even Iran, despite its differences, is supporting the Taliban with money and weaponry as the US is their common enemy. Unconfirmed reports are that Taliban delegations have even visited Russia. Taliban have fought their way into recognition. Nobody can wish them away now. dna: India too has invested generously in Afghanistan!RY: India has invested $2.1 billion wisely in Afghanistan and earned a lot of praise locally. India has built an alternative road from Chabahar in Iran to Dilaram in Afghanistan. It is building the Afghanistan parliament, a symbol of democracy. New Delhi has also built a dam in Herat, brought electricity from Uzbekistan to Kabul and is running hospitals there. And now, India is worried that its years of effort will be not be valued. The problem is that they are friendly with the current rulers and not with the Taliban.