ID :
58495
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 23:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58495
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No link between India and Af-Pak policy: Lambah
New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) India's special envoy for
Afghanistan has said there is no link between New Delhi and
the new Afghanistan-Pakistan policy unveiled by the US.
"We have been told by the US that there is no connection
between India and the US Af-Pak policy," Indian Prime
Minister's special envoy for Afghanistan Satinder K Lambah
told "Outlook" news magazine in an interview.
Lambah's remarks contradict the comment of General David
Petraeus, the US Central Command chief, that India is a part
of the portfolio of Richard Holbrooke, US President Barack
Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"But if it means that without India, no solution is
possible in Afghanistan then it is acceptable to us. Besides
that there is no other linkage," Lambah said.
All western countries have accepted that without India it
will not be possible to have a solution in Afghanistan, he
said.
"We see India playing a role in not only Afghanistan's
reconstruction but also in discussing its future," he said.
The special envoy pooh-poohed Pakistan's contention that
unless its tension with India is reduced, it could not fully
concentrate in tackling the terrorist activities along its
border with Afghanistan.
"It is generally believed that between 2004 and 2007
India-Pakistan relations were amongst the best we have had. It
is exactly during this period that the internal situation in
Afghanistan and Pakistan worsened. Where then is the
co-relation," Lambah asked.
Lambah felt that Pakistan's complaints about India's
intensified activities in Afghanistan had no justification.
"Pakistan is not happy with the way we are helping the
common man in Afghanistan. There are no justifications for
their complaints. Our objective has been to help the people of
Afghanistan and we will not be influenced by other factors,"
the special envoy said.
He said the situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated
because of the help rendered to Al-Qaeda from inside Pakistan.
"Whether it is Taliban, al-Qaeda or the Lashkar-e-Toiba
-- there is a common syndicate which has been nurtured and
supported in the same sanctuaries," he said.
On international aid to Pakistan, Lambah said India was
not opposed to any economic assistance.
"There has been a record in the past of economic
assistance to Pakistan not being used for intended purposes.
This time we are told by the international community, which
has been very generous with economic assistance, that such
assistance will be matched with performance. Let us see what
happens," Lambah said. PTI
Afghanistan has said there is no link between New Delhi and
the new Afghanistan-Pakistan policy unveiled by the US.
"We have been told by the US that there is no connection
between India and the US Af-Pak policy," Indian Prime
Minister's special envoy for Afghanistan Satinder K Lambah
told "Outlook" news magazine in an interview.
Lambah's remarks contradict the comment of General David
Petraeus, the US Central Command chief, that India is a part
of the portfolio of Richard Holbrooke, US President Barack
Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"But if it means that without India, no solution is
possible in Afghanistan then it is acceptable to us. Besides
that there is no other linkage," Lambah said.
All western countries have accepted that without India it
will not be possible to have a solution in Afghanistan, he
said.
"We see India playing a role in not only Afghanistan's
reconstruction but also in discussing its future," he said.
The special envoy pooh-poohed Pakistan's contention that
unless its tension with India is reduced, it could not fully
concentrate in tackling the terrorist activities along its
border with Afghanistan.
"It is generally believed that between 2004 and 2007
India-Pakistan relations were amongst the best we have had. It
is exactly during this period that the internal situation in
Afghanistan and Pakistan worsened. Where then is the
co-relation," Lambah asked.
Lambah felt that Pakistan's complaints about India's
intensified activities in Afghanistan had no justification.
"Pakistan is not happy with the way we are helping the
common man in Afghanistan. There are no justifications for
their complaints. Our objective has been to help the people of
Afghanistan and we will not be influenced by other factors,"
the special envoy said.
He said the situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated
because of the help rendered to Al-Qaeda from inside Pakistan.
"Whether it is Taliban, al-Qaeda or the Lashkar-e-Toiba
-- there is a common syndicate which has been nurtured and
supported in the same sanctuaries," he said.
On international aid to Pakistan, Lambah said India was
not opposed to any economic assistance.
"There has been a record in the past of economic
assistance to Pakistan not being used for intended purposes.
This time we are told by the international community, which
has been very generous with economic assistance, that such
assistance will be matched with performance. Let us see what
happens," Lambah said. PTI
