India should be party to talks with Taliban: Karzai
Former Afghan president says India, Iran and Russia should all be present at Taliban talks
Hamid Karzai. PHOTO: REUTERS
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai has urged India to ‘seek’ to be present during Taliban peace talks.
"India, Iran and Russia should all be present," Karzai said during his visit to New Delhi, according to the Times of India.
Karzai, known for anti-Pakistan rhetoric, also asked India to engage more deeply with the Ghani-led Afghan government. "The two countries are intrinsically linked due to common security interests," the former Afghan president said.
The second round of Pakistan-brokered peace talks were postponed after confirmation of the death of Taliban supremo Mullah Omar.
Read: ‘Secret letter’ reveals Afghan pressure on Pakistan
Further, Karzai said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Afghan intelligence service (NDS) and Pakistan's ISI no longer exists.
"No, the MoU does not stand. President Ashraf Ghani and I had a conversation on that which I hope will bear fruit. It's something Afghan people have rejected, because it is against Afghan interests," Karzai said, while addressing the media.
According to reports, Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah is scheduled to visit India on September 17 to hold talks with the Indian government. The visit comes at a time when ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan have hit a low point.
Read: Organisers of terrorist attacks still exist in Pakistan: Afghan president
Abdullah is scheduled to visit India as a result of two big donor conferences in Afghanistan, RECCA along with the Japan-led conference, during with India ensured completion of its ongoing projects. However, according to reports, if the Afghan president is seen leaning towards Pakistan, India will be forced to rethink its engagement priorities in Afghanistan. However, the former seems unlikely.
This article originally appeared on Times of India
"India, Iran and Russia should all be present," Karzai said during his visit to New Delhi, according to the Times of India.
Karzai, known for anti-Pakistan rhetoric, also asked India to engage more deeply with the Ghani-led Afghan government. "The two countries are intrinsically linked due to common security interests," the former Afghan president said.
The second round of Pakistan-brokered peace talks were postponed after confirmation of the death of Taliban supremo Mullah Omar.
Read: ‘Secret letter’ reveals Afghan pressure on Pakistan
Further, Karzai said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Afghan intelligence service (NDS) and Pakistan's ISI no longer exists.
"No, the MoU does not stand. President Ashraf Ghani and I had a conversation on that which I hope will bear fruit. It's something Afghan people have rejected, because it is against Afghan interests," Karzai said, while addressing the media.
According to reports, Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah is scheduled to visit India on September 17 to hold talks with the Indian government. The visit comes at a time when ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan have hit a low point.
Read: Organisers of terrorist attacks still exist in Pakistan: Afghan president
Abdullah is scheduled to visit India as a result of two big donor conferences in Afghanistan, RECCA along with the Japan-led conference, during with India ensured completion of its ongoing projects. However, according to reports, if the Afghan president is seen leaning towards Pakistan, India will be forced to rethink its engagement priorities in Afghanistan. However, the former seems unlikely.
This article originally appeared on Times of India