Nirupama Rao, the Indian ambassador to the United States, voiced strong support for US-led military efforts in Afghanistan but said that New Delhi was "keenly watching" tentative attempts for talks with the Taliban.
“While we agree that ultimately there would have to be a political solution, we also believe that this should not become an overriding objective that needs to be achieved at all costs,” Rao said.
“That would risk the prospect of a victory of those dark forces of terrorism and religious extremism that have plagued the region for so long,” she said in a speech at George Washington University.
US envoy Marc Grossman held talks this weekend in Afghanistan with President Hamid Karzai and said he found strong support for peace efforts, as the Taliban look to open an office in Qatar to facilitate talks.
But the United States said that the Taliban needed to renounce violence and cut relations with Al-Qaeda before negotiations.
The United States hopes to withdraw the bulk of its forces from Afghanistan in 2014 amid public fatigue in the United States and its Western allies over a war first launched following the September 11, 2001 attacks by Al-Qaeda.
India has been enthusiastic about the fight against the Taliban, whose 1996-2001 regime was allied with New Delhi's arch-enemy Pakistan and provided refuge to Islamic militants who targeted Indian interests.
India has given more than $2 billion in aid to post-Taliban Afghanistan and plans to play a larger role training Afghan forces, angering Pakistan which has an increasingly tense relationship with the United States.
Grossman last week also visited India on his trip to discuss peace efforts. But Pakistan refused his visit, saying it first wanted to complete a review of its relations with the United States.
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i dont think afghan terrorists can win but i certainly do think that their creating an impact through improvised explosive devices. we need to deal with such devices.
Afghanistan is the eastern front of S. Korea. It is likely that an autonomous region between Afghanistan and Pak will emerge in the coming years. She is right in her assessment.
@let there be peace: and who is civilized....US which bombed japan and killed millions in revenge of pearl harbor..a militry bse....killed millions in iraq just to take out saddam...if this is civilized then talebans are better.
Right. So I could hear the American TV presenter speaking about the video but not Ayman Al Zawahiri speaking. Dude thats not even an evidence! The presenter is just putting words in his mouth! haha
@SaiSai: Al Qaeda Releases 1st Video Since Bin Laden Death: Tape contains Ayman al-Zawahiri's first acknowledgement of terror leader's death.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/video?id=13791499&tab=9482931§ion=10268699&playlist=10268695
@G. Din Taleban asked the Americans for evidence that Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the attacks. They were ready to handover Bin Laden if the U.S handed them evidence. But the American didn't. So Taleban did not think of any reason to hand over Bin Laden to them.
@Indian muslim:
Article is by AFP. NOT Pakistani media.
@Kafka: You are right on all counts except: Taliban sheltered Alqueda and refused to surrender it when it had owned to perpetrating a horrific crime.
Consider this: 1) Taliban did not plan or finance 9/11 attacks 2) 9/11 or any other such attack was not planned in Afghanistan 3) No Taliban was involved in any attack outside afghanistan 4) There is no evidence that Al-qauida is actually guiding Taliban in afghanistan 5) Taliban Government was cruel, but there are so many other such regime, living and thriving. The above points easily point out that the war in afghanistan against Taliban was not right at the first place. US has realized it the hard way. India needs to understand that too.
@BS.Detecter: First time reading some one saying Taliban = Alqaeda
All jihadis are same. Some of them kill innocent people, some throw flowers on them, and some use pen to defend and glorify their actions. Civilized world should learn to answer them in their own language.
I think our official AFPAK policy has changed, she needs to be updated. we need to understand our limitations before making such inane statements.As for Pakistan hurting us through Afghanistan, we can do the same.Best policy for India is to help Afghanistan build a modern state and trade with Pakistan,After all a Pakistan which has a stake in India would think twice before attacking India.
@Malatesh: First time reading some one saying Taliban = Alqaeda Dude seriously go refresh your memory, seems quite a rust have taken place
@Indian muslim: LOL! Those living in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
Ok India then can you please give the Americans millions of dollars to win the war? Americas resources are drained because of this war and it hasn't achieved anything!! That's why it's seeking dialogue! Besides, the Americans are the invaders and the occupiers. How can they tell the Taleban who are natives to stop fighting for their country? By the way, no matter what these Americans do, unless they get all their soldiers out of afghanistan, taleban and other insurgent groups will not stop fighting.
Nirupama Rao is absolutely right. US should avoid any talks with Taliban. Taliban is Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda is Taliban. There is no chance of Taliban leaving Al-Qaeda.