In an effort to keep India in the loop, the US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad paid a flying visit to India on Thursday. The chief architect of America’s agreement with the Taliban, Khalilzad met Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
He was accompanied by the senior director in the US National Security Council Lisa Curtis and the US ambassador Ken Juster. According to a release by the MEA, Khalilzad “provided and update [sic] on the US peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.”
“The US side recognized India's constructive contribution in economic development, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. They laid importance to India's crucial and continuing role in sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.”
“EAM and NSA reiterated India's continued support for strengthening peace, security, unity, democratic and inclusive polity and protection of rights of all sections of the Afghan society, including Afghan Hindus and Sikhs,” the release said.
Last month too, the US special envoy had spoken to S. Jaishankar about India’s engagement in regional and international efforts for lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
India is not the only stop on Khalilzad’s itinerary. His first stop was Doha and he will also be travelling to Pakistan. Khalidzad’s visit is a signal that India still matters, even though India has been left out of the picture. With the Taliban firmly in the saddle, and America desperate to pull out, India is likely to lose the most if the Taliban continue to call the shots in after the intra-Afghan peace negotiations. And if the attack on the gurdwara on Kabul was any indication of things to come, India and its assets will be more vulnerable.
Both Jaishankar as well as Doval brought up the fact that violence has not been halted, despite the agreement between the US and the Taliban. “India is deeply concerned at the upsurge in violence and supports call for immediate ceasefire and need to assist the people of Afghanistan in dealing with the coronavirus,” the press release said.
It is no secret that Washington is not pleased with the current fissures in Kabul. By slashing aid to Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had in March made it abundantly clear that the US felt the rivalry between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah—with both of them claiming the role of Afghanistan's president—was not helping. Khalilzad would certainly hope that India—who counts both as friends—would be able to help resolve the issue. India, so far, has backed Ghani.
While the trip might have been to assuage India’s fears, India too, has made it clear that “putting an end to terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries is necessary for enduring and sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
In short, sending a message that Pakistan’s help can’t mean appeasement.