In separate meetings with General Kayani and Bashir, Afghan envoy Omar Khan Daudzai justified his country’s latest push to enhance security and economic cooperation with India but insisted the move “was not aimed at isolating Pakistan”, diplomatic sources said.
Both Afghan and Pakistani officials confirmed the meetings took place but shared little details.
“The discussions were obviously focused on developments that took place recently,” an Afghan diplomat said, requesting anonymity.
A Pakistani military official said the Afghan ambassador met General Kayani in an effort to dismiss the impression that the strategic partnership between Kabul and New Delhi was meant to undermine Islamabad’s role in Afghanistan.
However, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani tried to downplay the development.
“Both are sovereign countries, they have the right to do whatever they want to,” Gilani told reporters in Islamabad.
But despite Gilani’s somewhat neutral reaction, the country’s security establishment fears that India’s enhanced role in Afghanistan will have serious implications for Pakistan.
The strategic pact between Afghanistan and India was sealed amidst Pakistan’s strained ties with both Kabul and Washington over the Haqqani network.
Analysts say the latest US and Afghan allegations against Pakistan, coupled with Kabul’s accord with New Delhi, appears to indicate coordinated attempt to exert pressure on Islamabad.
A source familiar with the ongoing developments said General Kayani and Bashir both voiced serious concerns over the Afghan accusations holding Pakistan responsible for the mess in Afghanistan.
“The blame game must come to an end,” the source quoted Bashir as telling the Afghan envoy.
It was believed that the Afghan envoy also raised the issue of investigations into the killing of former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani. Afghan officials claimed the suicide bomber, who had killed Rabbani, was a Pakistani national and was linked with the Quetta Shura.
Karzai tries to reassure ‘twin brother’
Sensing the likely implications of the strategic pact with India, Afghan President Hamid Karzai reached out to Pakistan to reassure the South Asian nation that the accord would not harm ties.
“Pakistan is our twin brother, India is a great friend. The agreement we signed with our friend will not affect our brother,” he told a gathering in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Karzai’s two-day visit to India comes during rising Afghan anger with Pakistan and Afghan accusations of Pakistan’s involvement in militant attacks.
The Afghan president reiterated that Afghanistan should be negotiating peace with Pakistan, not the Taliban.
“We have decided not to talk to the Taliban because we do not know their address ... therefore we have decided to talk to our brothers in Pakistan,” he said. “The peace process will now be focused more on relations between countries ... than on individuals we cannot find.”
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2011.
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Brotherly nations India+Pakistan+Afganistan will be in favour of south asia, as india is a super power in IT already by this tool we can rule world and same time reduce our poverty and take path of common progress. Yesterday India launched worlds cheepest tablet for 35 dollers and started to distribute millions of indian students. This can be also shared with our naboureing countries.
@Asif Butt: Thanks a lot brother, our govt is going to distribute it with 50% subsidy to all collage and after all school going students. This is a great achievement that we produced worlds cheepst but effective tablet with 2 gb memory.
I wish brother and friend of Afghanistan should have cordial relationship with each other. Pakistan is going through the most difficult times since its independance and its time for India to extend a helping hand to its neighbour whereas Pakistan should stop cross-border terrorism against India. India has taken the lead in opening more avenues in biltaeral trade and its now upto Pakistan to reciprocate and show its goodwill towards its neighbour. My humble request to military who form the foreign policy and also the most important establishment of Pakistan to review its policy towards India and rather than spending wasteful expenditure on military hardware should focus on its economy, since India is doing the same would never attack Pakistan and risk bursting its booming economy. Futher, instead of patronising terror organisations who have brought total misery and destruction but no dividends for the country, should rather eliminate them for bringing permanent peace and prosperity in Pakistan as well as the whole region.
@Qasim: In my opinion Pakistan and America deserve each other both are backstabbers. Even after getting billions of dollars in aid Pakistan protected Taliban and Bin laden. Pakistan (Army) always thinks about itself not even of its own people. Thus all the neighbors look at Pakistan with an eye of suspicion.
STRATEGIC PINCERS FOR STRATEGIC DEPTH:
The Pakistani top brass pursued its meaningless fraud of strategic depth to a point that it backfired, exploded in its face, on Tuesday, 10/04/2011, as Afghanistan signed a strategic pact with India.
Now, the hawks at the GHQ find themselves caught in a pincer movement--rather, in a pocket. A stroke of genius or, not, this move by Karzai could be termed a last-minute purchase of an insurance policy in view of the fact his brother was recently murdered and then his top peacemaker was assassinated.
The pact with India increases the chances of Karzai's assassination or, does it decrease them?
@Mah Give me one good reason why Indians should be jealous of Pakistan.
NOW ITS INDIA'S TURN!
Talibaan Zindah baad!
@Scheraz: Not really...... he fools no one but himself. Lovely move would be to move hi several million refugees in Pak to India since he cant afford them back in his town!
@Kafka:
He probably read this one "You cannot choose your relatives but you can choose your friend"!!
Pakistan is the brother Afghanistan is bound to by geography but it sees a natural friend in India among the nations of the world
Twin brother is kinda lost as to what it wants to be honest...GHQ kinda rubbing its head and thats where the real power lies in Pakistan
Kane and Abel were also twin brothers Prez Karzai.....I hope this would not turnout the case in Af-Pak relations :P
What other reason can the great friend have to bond with the twin brother of its enemy?
If we had any brains we would encourage this relationship and seriously rethink our position forwards taking into account the changing scenario.
@Mah:
I am an Indian...and I don't remember seeing any positive news about Pakistan - that would make an Indian burn in jealousy - recently in this site.... Can you recall any?
@LAL
Its all about politics pappu there are no friends in politics only interests ;)
@ Yuri Kondratyuk... You are right but I would like help you to get the record straight that the faction Tehrik-eTaliban aka TTP are supported/sponsered by CIA/RAW/Mossad agents, TTP is a sub-section of AL-CIA-DA aka Al Qaida whose leader was CIA agent (code name) Tim Osman aka Osama Bin Ladin (you can search it on google as well). Where as the actual inherited Taliban are followers of Mullah Umar, who used to support Al Qaida but seperated himself from it after knowing they are double agents with their mission to get rid from western & US troops who have forcely invaded Afghanistan.. Haqqani network is a relegious group originating in Afghanistan who are following Mullah Umar as their leader. Haqqanis people were basically consisted as a regelious group following Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani as their Pir and their followers call themselves Haqqanis just like Gillanis, Chishtis etc. But after 9/11 and specially after US and Western invasion in Afghanistan, Haqqani were forced to form their millitant wing aka independent insurgent group to get freedom from foreigners.
Here is Karzai with CIA paramilitary force (the democratic force behind his presidential position) http://bit.ly/n4B571
According to orders given to him by his masters, Karzai is shoving the Indians down the throats of the Afghans which they so despise . . . . . what an oximoron!!! Does he even care for the general Afghan population that has been slaughtered so ruthlessly for so long??? The Afghans have been sharing bread and taking refuge with their blood brothers from Pakistan. It is the same line of blood and blood is thicker than water!! If Karzai really wanted to save lives and have peace, he would have kept India out rather then give opportunity to Indians to create spy networks through out Afghanistan and then into Pakistan killing muslims on each side through their proxy wars!!
To Karzai, They Mayor of Kabul, Please stick these shenanigans to where sun does not shine.
@...... It's only natural that Karzai will and should look at afghanis interest first then to Pakistans friendship, Pakistan as a nation has been selfish towards Afghanistan, always seeking it's own interest (naturally) so expecting Afghanistan to forgo it's priority and interest just because You may loose influence over them. This kind of thinking will never work. In the lat 20 hrs. Pakistan has become one of the most distrusted country of the world. I doubt if anybody would like Pakistan to be a trusted friend and neighbor. Pakistan should be thankful that he was kind enough to mention Pakistan as Twin brother
Waiting to see its results in the future already!
Karazai spoke about marching all the way to Attock and threatening Pakistani Punjab in a book by the former British Ambassador to Afganistan. May I remind Karzai that Afgasnistan cannot survive without the wheat from Punjab.
Dear Karazai, Can you also please work to re-allocate the the 3.5mio Afghanis immigrants in Pakistan to India? Your kind efforts on this score will be greatly appreciated.
I have been browsing this site for a few days now and one thing i have noticed on most articles is that comments by Indians are malafide and clearly indicate that they do not have an iota of goodwill towards Pakistan. One can feel their blood boil in anger and jealousy if they see anything positive in our news.
As for Afghanistan...Pakistan does need to sit down and create a foreign policy towards them which aligns most of our strategic interests. I refuse to stereotype afghans as backstabbers. Come to think of it...all the poor nation has seen is war in the 35 years so lets just give them a breather.
" Fate chooses our relatives, but we choose our friends."
Well, I always thought blood was thicker than water..in which case, the blood relative, aka Pakistan is closer than the friend, India.
In any case, Karzai will push off before the last American troops leave; so, how does it matter what he says..he is a non-entity anyway, and I suspect the Indian know this...thats why they like making 'nonstarter pacts' with Karzai, knowing nothing will happen.
What I dont understand is why Pakistanis get so worked up knowing that Karzai is a non-entity, and whatever he says is vaorware...
@ik:
Because "twin brother" wants to secure Afghanistan for itself.
Twin brother not same as friend.
For all those who say that Pak is playing in Afg affairs, let me tell you Afgs... You have been a playing ground since ages, once it was USSR, then US, Iran, Pak and now a new player, India.
The fall out of this comment will be interesting to watch from Pakistan and India both.
Karzai is playing a dangerous diplomatic game one he can't play much longer at least not without the help of US. And I don't know how much confidence he has from US, I am guessing very little.
If this helps Afghans why not ? We also have just signed a major trade pact with India. Accept it or not India is a major player in the region, and have been more successful and progressive then us in Pakistan. When Turkey and Arab states can have a relationship with Israel, I do not see why Afghan as a state can not have a pact with India. End of the day everyone has a right to secure its national interest, what we should be more concerned is how are we 'The Pakistani' Nation setting our priorities in the future - we have been thinking more from our heart and not using our mind, and we have paid a price for doing the same.
Today all our neighbours are unhappy with us, either we can blame them all or blame our-self - Kashmiris do not wants to be called a Pakistani, China is cautious with us given its relationship with US & India as well as the export of militancy from our part of the world, Iran is mad on us due to elements from Baluchistan creating trouble for them + it is building stronger relations with India, India is for sure has some valid and many invalid concerns towards us.
Take a break, and be logical. Do not try to justify your failures with issues on the other-side all the time. We are not the champs or the superstars, we are the bad guy and a looser in the film. We should stop looking for excuses and should start working to improve our position. Pakistan Zindabad.
Why is the "twin brother" not a partner in securing Afghanistan?
Vienna,05-10-2011 Pakistan should not complain if it can not comfort twin Afghanistan of Af-Pak hook. It is Pakistan that drives Afghanistan to take shelter in India.It is common sense. Afghanis live in India everywhere not only in Pakistan´s Karachi slums. In Bombay they are princes of Bollywood. It is natural for them strengthen the relations. India has Hazara connection via Agha Khan Ismailis. Today´s Pakistan is systematically killing all blood relations of their founding father of the Nation.That is the point. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
HUWAY TUM DOST JIS KAY DUSHMAN OS KA AASMAN KYON HO
Mr. Karzai you are acting like brathran-e- Yusuf. You can do anything for money. We do not trust you.
REMEMBER PAKISTAN WAS STANDING WITH YOU WHEN USSR WAS KILLING AFGHANIS INDIA WAS WITH RUSSIA.
Karzai- The satanic ear man( look at his left ear) if you have any dignity or shame take away your 3 million refugees to India
@Faiz:
Well, all these days I was led to believe by my Pakistani brothers that taliban were hindus in disguise and/or were CIA/RAW/Mossad agents!
Doesn't the Shia-Sunni conflict have it's roots in conjoined twins who were parted by a sword?
Pakistan must notify US and NATO that the strategic agreement between India and Afghanistan in a serious violation of the their agreement with Pakistan which stipulated at the start of the war in Afghanistan that India will have no role in Afghanistan security matters. As such, with immediate effect Pakistan must stop it's role in war on terror and give no facilities of land, air and water routes for NATO forces. Since, NATO has broken the agreement, let them handle their war at their own.
Karzai Sahib, Afghans are most often very unfortunately killed by their own brothers or they kill their brothers. So be aware of your twin brother.
My borther Faiz what about what Pakistan is doing in Afghanistan, they always denied that they were not supporting Taliban and finally all the big leaders were housed in Paksitan and finallay Pakistan admitted that they were supporting Taliban. Pakistan need to stop playing games and be a good friend to Afghans. Afghanistan is a poor country suffered for many years for got sake let it breath and stop playing dirth games with it.
afghanis are backstabbers.
Afghanistan (under Karzai) is Pakistan's evil twin indeed!!
A big happening is followed by 'a series of small happenings' they say, and I second them.
What if Ghazwa-e-Hind is the awaited big happening.
Karzai!!! What have You done!
Beautifully articulated. Pakistan and Afghanistan are like two brothers, Raam and Laxman, and India should be looked upon as the trusted, benevolent common friend, Lord Hanuman. Pakistanis don't need to feel any insecurity, fear or anxiety from India. Dr. Manmohan Singh is trying his level best to build bridges of cooperation and trust. As a sane peace-loving Indian, I'd personally request my Pakistani friends not to harbor any negative feelings about this budding joyous relationship of friendship between Mr. Karzai and Dr. Manmoham Singh. Both of them are equally concerned about your prosperity and all-round growth. As an Indian, I fully recognize the value of Afghanistan as Pakistan's backyard. Just promise us that you'll turn this backyard into a garden of roses, and ensure that it doesn't become a bed of thorns for India. Dear Pakistani friends, please don't erect a construction like the Great Wall of China between yourself and your twin brothers, the Afghans along the Durand Line.
There is a famous idiom that hungry hens always come to home for feed and when they have to lay the eggs they choose neighborhood.
Whenever there have been difficult times on Afghanistan we have always supported them, now when the time the reap the crops has arrived they have jumped in Indian pouch.
What a hypocrisy this has been exhibited by Afghanistan by recognizing Pak as twin brother and stabbing his back by welcoming his foe.
Nice Joke Karzai, you want us to believe what you say
In India we have a famous product tag line these days, "Har ek friend zaroori hota hai", Mr karzai knows that twin is what u r stuck with but a friend can be selected.
Afghanistan and Pakistan:Twin Bros. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A regular theme in indian movies: twin brothers separate at birth...one becomes a Police officer....the other a dacoit....and towards the end of the movie the two meet...
U can guess which one is Afghanisatn and which one is pakistan!
be very careful with Afgahanistan...... as they have never appreciated our friendship and help and tend to lean towards India always.
A Hypocrite statement. Karzai is a puppet and want to trained Indian terrorists in Afghanistan against Pakistan. But InshaAllah, after the withdrawal of USA from Afghanistan, Taliban will crush Karzai and Indian in Afghanistan, because, Taliban are inherently against India.
Well said man, we pakis welcome this at this moment.
was he really Karzai...Twin brother? good remarks about Pakistan , coming out of his mouth..good for a change
Only comment came in mind is "Lovely Move!!!"
Diplomatic statement by Mr.Hamid Karzai for PAKISTAN.
Such a looser!!!
A young man asked a sage," Define a brother and a really good friend". " Brother is gold, while the good friend is like diamond." said the sage. The young man was amazed, " why is a friend costlier than brother". The sage said, " If there is a fracture in gold, it can be melted and brought back to original condition, but if a fracture appears in a diamond, it can never be removed".
Had Karzai read this anecdote??
Indis is all weather friend of afganistan. Now a days brotherhood has taken back seat as pak is also causion of India..historically.
Take a hike man! He is a dangerously unstable and ungrateful person. It is a waste of time to say or advise anything to him because he and his family are a 'complete' puppet of US and an employee of US government. His changeover like the colour of the lizard will prove harmful for Afganistan, not him personally. The reason being his foreign policy is carried out on an ad hoc basis-he does as the situation demands, in his own interest. The people of Afghanistan must force him to adopt a serious attitude in politics and not follow him blindly.
Pakistan does not need enemies, when it has friends (twin brothers) like Karzai; bckstabber, ungrateful and many more.
be aware of Karzai big talks.. he is a back stabber .....
Well as i said before, he cant help it, living with or without us, just like the US, my message to my Indian friends
Like the picture with Mr. Manmohan on Mayors back.