Page 56 - 31MAR2019E

India builds on strong ties

with Afghanistan and Iran

New Delhi’s post-Balakot strategy to fight terrorism needs to involve closer cooperation with Kabul
and Tehran, who are equally affected by Pakistan-based terrorism, writes nava thakuria

ndia, a projected enemy nation to JeM terrorists. Since then both the gov- persistent turmoil.
Pakistan since their births in 1947, ernments in New Delhi and Islamabad “Due to relentless political distur-
continues nurturing friendship made voluminous statements over the bances in Pakistan, the bilateral rela-
with Afghanistan and also Iran. development highlighting their respec- tionship of India and Afghanistan often
I The recent functioning of an Ira- tive success in the battlefield. faces hurdles. However these difficul-
nian port in Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean) Presently ill from renal problems ties are short lived and both the friendly
connecting Afghanistan with India and under treatment somewhere in nations soon come to the business as
bypassing Pakistan reveals a story of Pakistan, JeM chief Masood Azhar is usual,” said Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, a
New Delhi’s growing embraces to both understood to be a fanatical enemy to senior Afghan radio journalist.
Kabul and Tehran. India, as he masterminded an attack Speaking to this reporter from
A secular democratic regime in New on its Parliament building in 2001. He Kabul recently, Khalvatgar reiterated
Delhi, which has been mounting stand- remained active in PoK and often sent that both the countries with strong
off against the Islamic republic admin- civilizational ties have maintained
istration immediately after the Pulwa- goodwill relationship that emerges
ma terror attack on a convoy of Indian India’s billion-dollar beneficial to both the developing
security forces on 14 February killing developmental nations. Commenting on the present
over 40 personnel, came into actions Indo-Pak standoff, he also asserted that
against Islamabad garnering supports initiatives in India has the legitimate right to defend
from the international community. its territory and people.
The suicide bombing, engineered Muslim-dominated Terming Afghanistan itself a vic-
by Maulana Masood Azhar led Jaish-e- Afghanistan since tim of terrorism, Khalvatgar urges all
Mohammed (JeM)- as it had officially progressive forces on the globe to get
accepted the responsibility of Pulwama 2001 have already united against the menace of terror-
attack, sent a massive wave of pain & generated huge ism that has emerged as a curse to the
anger among millions of Indians across human race. Persistent conflicts fuelled
the country. Emotionally charged goodwill for the by terrorism can ruin a nation and his
nationalists strongly insisted on proper Hindu majority native country today represents a
retaliatory actions against JeM terror- classic example of disorders, stated
ists supported by Islamabad. nation the qualified journalist on international
Public sentiments were fully materi- relations.
alized by the Prime Minister Narendra He appreciates the latest initiative
Modi of nationalist Bhartiya Janata Par- public threats to Indian nation as a to open a trade route between Afghani-
ty-led government in New Delhi on the whole and PM Modi in particular. stan and India through strategic Chaba-
run-up to next general election in April/ With its holy mission to transform har port of friendly Iran (bypassing
May and declared that perpetrators of young men into suicide bombers who Pakistan) that re-establishes the impor-
the attack in Kashmir valley would not would later kill everyone not believ- tance of Kabul as an international busi-
be spared. ing in Islam or even a Muslim who ness centre once again for which New
Modi’s assertions followed with sud- supports non-Islamic activities so that Delhi signed an agreement with Tehran
den aerial attacks by Indian air-forces those aspirant youths can win paradise in 2016.
in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and after sacrificing lives in the name of Nevertheless, Khalvatgar disclosed
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (PKP) of Allah (God), Masood Azhar put Pakistan that the turmoil in Pakistan has severe-
the neighboring country killing many and its neighboring foreign localities in ly affected the ongoing peace process

Tehelka / 31 march 2019 56 www.Tehelka.com