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India, Iran, Russia mull ways to take on Taliban

by israeli.agent | March 23, 2009 at 08:18 pm

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This is a very important development. It would better to be late than never. But at the same time the three governments should aim at not to agitate the common populace - in such case the move will backfire. Russian have the experience in first hand with Afghanistan and rather than re-inventing the wheel, India and Iran should learn from their mistakes.

India too has a similar experience with Sri Lanka.

There is only one way to tackle Taliban. Create awareness amoung the non-talibani muslims. Iran can play a very important role in this. But what would be the fee they will be asking for?

It's still part of conversations, but old partners, India, Iran and Russia, are dusting out an old mechanism to take on the Taliban in Afghanistan.

All three countries are still at an exploratory stage, but some articulated realities and possibilities are spurring on these discussions. First, the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan is giving the Taliban and other Pakistan-sponsored jihadists a growing space. Second, a fear that the US and NATO, in their eagerness to craft out an exit strategy in Afghanistan, might fall for a Pakistan-assisted scheme to put some Taliban elements dressed up as "moderate" in charge of governing Afghanistan.

The first time this will be discussed more fully will be during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's ministerial meeting in Moscow on March 27. Both Iran and India will attend the SCO meet. Iran's foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki was in Mazar-e-Sharif last weekend to meet officials from Afghanistan and Tajikistan. India has been much more quiet. But Russia, in its capacity as SCO chairman, is taking a more hands-on position.