India - Australia 2+2 Talks Acknowledge Taliban

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India - Australia 2+2 Talks Acknowledge Taliban

In its first official reference to the Taliban as a state actor, India acknowledged in a joint statement with Australia on 12 September that the group holds “positions of power and authority across Afghanistan”. This however, falls short of officially recognising the Taliban administration as the government of Afghanistan.  Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had described the Taliban as the “dispensation” in Kabul during his remarks after the 2+2 talks with Australia involving Foreign and Defence ministers.

 

Joint statement

The joint statement issued in 12 September said: “(The) Ministers also expressed deep concern about the situation in Afghanistan. Ministers called for the Taliban to guarantee safe passage for foreign nationals and Afghans wanting to leave the country.”

It said: “They reiterated calls on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to adhere to counterterrorism commitments and human rights, in accordance with UNSCR 2593.”

The UN Security Council Resolution 2593 — issued on August 30 under India’s month-long presidency — emphasised that Afghanistan must not allow its soil to be used for terrorism-linked activities.

Violations of human rights: The joint statement outlined reports of violations of human rights. “They (the Ministers) noted reports of a rapid roll-back on women and girls’ rights and access to services and public spaces, as well as targeted violence against women’s rights defenders. In this regard, the Ministers reiterated their call for protection of rights of women and children and their full participation in public life,” it said.

Inclusive government: The statement sought “a broad-based and inclusive government” for “long term peace and stability in Afghanistan”.

On terrorism: Flagging concerns on terrorism, it said that both sides “agreed to remain alert to the broader repercussions of the developments in Afghanistan for the ongoing terrorist threats around the world, and in our region”.

Apart from Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, the 2+2 talks involved Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart Peter Dutton.

 

‘India must not be in any hurry to recognise the Taliban’

In the light of the joint statement, Abhijit Bhattacharya (commentator and author) writes “India must not be in any hurry to recognise the Taliban as the legitimate sovereign ruler of Afghanistan. Extend diplomatic courtesy and hospitality, walk the talk off or on the table, or at venues beyond the geographical boundary to ensure rescue and rehabilitation of the garrisoned people, or address humanitarian causes to reduce the suffering of those in distress. Also, include the supply of food, clothing, medicine, life-saving devices in consonance with the traditional dignity, honour, humanism and duty for which India is known, but no recognition!”

Global recognition may be a long haul: Unless the Taliban ensure the restoration of rule of law, peace, harmony and stability under their claimed jurisdiction, argues Bhattacharya “it is unlikely that political recognition from the civilised world would be granted any time soon. Barring a few exceptions like an expansionist CPC, the Pakistani Army-ISI and a few small nations connected to Kabul more with the ideology of theocracy and less with accepted norms of diplomacy, polity, decency and harmonious co-existence with one’s own people, recognition may be a long haul for the Taliban.”

Even G Parthasarathy (Chancellor, Jammu Central University & former High Commissioner to Pakistan) advises “India should not be in a hurry to re-establish a large diplomatic presence in Kabul. We should not forget that India remained the home of some very distinguished personalities from Afghanistan throughout the first spell of Taliban rule. The Taliban have openly displayed their religious bigotry. By all accounts, the downslide in Afghanistan’s economy is continuing. It is inevitable that in the not too distant future, the Taliban will face problems of serious shortages of wheat and other essential items, which India can best supply. India can also use the Chabahar Port in Iran and the territories of other Central Asian countries, like Tajikistan, for access to Afghanistan.”

Case for cooperation with Taliban

For India however, the most important foreign policy goal, says analyst Sunanda K Datta Ray is to save its “$3 billion investment  in Afghanistan. It has funded 500-plus development projects in all 34 provinces. While these must be safeguarded, the goodwill of a stable Afghanistan that is not a base for terrorist attacks matters far more to India’s future. That permanent interest can be sustained only through the cooperation of whoever controls Afghanistan.”

Security knows no religion: Stating that security knows no religion,  Datta Ray writes “even a ‘Hinduist’ India’s aim should be to secure the goodwill of a stable Afghanistan that is not a base for terrorist attacks…….” India must “face up to the reality of having to adjust to Muslim numbers… abroad as well as at home.”

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