Why was Karzai sent to Islamabad?

Posted on 10 March 2010.

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President Karzai reciprocated General Kiyani’s visit to Kabul within a week. What is going on. Why did Mr. Karzai visit Pakistan on the heels of President Ahmedinejad’s visit to Afghanistan and right before President Gul’s visit? The Kiyani Doctrine

A report in the Guardian may give us some insight into the reasons for Mr. Karzai’s visit to Islamabad. Reversing Anti-Americanism: Building US allies in West Asia

Unless more pressure is put on the Afghan government, some British officials predict that Karzai’s proposed loya jirga, or grand peace council, due at the end of next month, will be little more than a PR stunt. “My argument today is that now is the time for the Afghans to pursue a political settlement with as much vigour and energy as we are pursuing the military and civilian effort,” Miliband will say at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to a text of the address seen by the Guardian.

British officials believe that significant Taliban leaders are ready to start talking about a political settlement in which they would sever ties with al-Qaida and put down weapons in return for a role in politics. But there is also concern that opportunities to open a preliminary dialogue are being lost, and that the conflict, which has already cost more than 270 British lives, is being intensified by Kabul’s inefficiency and corruption.

“The Afghans must own, lead and drive such political engagement,” Miliband will say in his speech. “It will be a slow, gradual process. But the insurgents will want to see international support.

“International engagement, for example under the auspices of the UN, may ultimately be required.”

Kabul knows that Islamabad remains a powerful regional player and its longtime links to the Taliban could make it an indispensable part of talks. AP
“The Afghans are not in a position to take on Pakistan,” Ahmed Rashid
…the [Indian] Afghan policy is a microcosm of a larger malaise that the Indian foreign policy andsecurity establishment needs to tackle. There is no evidence that Delhi has the political will to have a course correction in this aspect. Ambassador Bhadrakumar of Asia Times.

All roads to Kabul Peace lead to Islamabad. Green Flag over mountain cauldron

No extradition, Karzai told. Pakistan owns Afghan reconciliation. Mr. Karzai’s visit reflects the will of the London Conference where Mr. Karzai was urged to reach out to the Taliban and try to find reconciliation. Mr. Karzai is seen to be moving too slowly on this count. The pressure is on. The UK and the US want to find a face-saving exit from Afghanistan. A coalition government in Kabul would allow the UK and the US to declare victory and leave the Hindu Kush. Post London Pakistan-American Strategic symbiosis leaves Delhi in the cold

Strategic Depth: Strength of Pakistan lies in a secure Afghanistan
Why are Pakistani peace deals considered capitulation and US peace deals in…
“But it also has an interest that is somewhat different than ours, and that is their strategic depth and always has been for a country that’s very narrow and has its historic enemy to its east. So again, we just have to appreciate this”. General Petraeus
“This is not unique, of course, just to Afghanistan and Pakistan and throughout the world. We have interests, they have interests. What we want to do is find the conversion interest, understand where they are divergent and try to make progress together,” General Petraeus.
No extradition, Karzai told. Pakistan owns Afghan reconciliation
Why was Karzai sent to Islamabad?
Green Flag over mountain cauldron

The US Pakistani relationship has overcome the hindrances placed between them by Bharat and other countries. Post London Pakistan-American Strategic symbiosis leaves Delhi in the cold. There is a new dynamic developing in South Asia. The old “build-Bharat-up-as-a-counterweight-to China” has been dumped in favor of a building dialogue, discussion and cooperation with China. Gen. Petraeus accepts Pakistan’s strategic depth in Afghanistan. The biggest strategic Indo-US project is the 123 Nuclear deal. However the nuclear cooperation is in cold storage and President Obama has not operationalized it. This new Islamabad-Washington cooperation has manifested itself in Delhi being disinvited from the regional conference in Turkey, and Delhi being given what the Times of India calls a 2nd row seat in the London conference on Afghanistan. Shocked by the snub from the US, Russia, China, and the UK in London–Delhi was even more chagrined when the US announced the “gift” of half a dozen frigates, choppers, laser bombs and other arms to Pakistan. India jittery about US arms for Pakistan. To put salt on the wounds, the US has announced a larger aid package to Pakistan in 2010. This on top of the EU proposal to pay Pakistan war reparations to the tune of $45 billion. War Reparations: Pakistan asks for $45 billion from EU

Strategic Depth: Strength of Pakistan lies in a secure Afghanistan
Why are Pakistani peace deals considered capitulation and US peace deals in…
“But it also has an interest that is somewhat different than ours, and that is their strategic depth and always has been for a country that’s very narrow and has its historic enemy to its east. So again, we just have to appreciate this”. General Petraeus
“This is not unique, of course, just to Afghanistan and Pakistan and throughout the world. We have interests, they have interests. What we want to do is find the conversion interest, understand where they are divergent and try to make progress together,” General Petraeus.
No extradition, Karzai told. Pakistan owns Afghan reconciliation
Why was Karzai sent to Islamabad?
Green Flag over mountain cauldron

The US is being coaxed to expedite the ROZ, a FTA, and free access to US markets. Washington is also assisting Pakistan in electrical and energy projects.