Tough-talking: On Taliban reconciliation process

Tough-talking: On Taliban reconciliation process

1. The Taliban reconciliation process is moving at a much faster pace than was expected, as seen by recent meetings of Taliban with US representatives in Doha and Russian officials in Moscow, but India has not been included in these meetings.
2. The US and Russia have accepted the idea that (a) concessions to Taliban, without insisting on cessation of violence, are necessary for ensuring Afghan peace (b) as Taliban has refused to include Afghan government in dialogue, it is excluded from meetings (c) Pakistan is an important party in all deliberations as it retains influence over Taliban.
3. India has always maintained distance from Taliban as India supports Afghan led, Afghan owned democratic peace process but this principle has been ignored by US, Russia, Taliban etc. which is one reason why India has been kept out.
4. Taliban has dissociated itself from Al-Qaeda and Islamic State and has pledged to not allow Afghan soil to be used by foreign terrorists, which is a positive stand, hence India should not allow itself to be left out by taking a rigid posture.
5. India must intensify its dialogue with regional and global stakeholders to convince them that any solution should include the progress achieved by Afghan people i.e. (a) establishing constitutional democracy and the rule of law and (b) securing the rights of women and minorities