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Afghanistan, India Discuss Counterterror Cooperation, Peace Efforts

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - India's national security adviser, Ajit Doval, traveled to
   Afghanistan Wednesday, where officials said he discussed with President
   Ashraf Ghani cooperation against terrorism and Afghan peace-building
   efforts.
   Doval's visit comes just days after India officially began its two-year
   tenure as a non-permanent member of the 15-nation United Nations
   Security Council, where it will chair three crucial sanctions
   committees, including one related to the Islamist Taliban of
   Afghanistan.
   The Taliban Sanctions Committee designates individuals and entities
   associated with, and supplying, selling or transferring arms to the
   Afghan insurgent group. Those listed are subject to an asset freeze,
   arms embargo and travel ban.
   "Both sides discussed counterterrorism cooperation and efforts for
   building regional consensus on supporting peace in Afghanistan,"
   Ghani's office said after his meeting with the Indian national security
   adviser.
   The Afghan president vowed that his country and India "in joint efforts
   with NATO and the United States, will be able to succeed in the fight
   against terrorism." In return, Doval offered assuring more cooperation"
   with Kabul.
   India has long denounced the Taliban and accused rival Pakistan of
   sheltering and backing the Islamist group's violent campaign against
   the Afghan government.
   Islamabad denies the charges, and in turn alleges New Delhi is using
   Afghan territory to plot cross-border terrorist attacks against
   Pakistan, which shares a 2,600-kilometer mountainous border with
   Afghanistan.
   Pakistani leaders also accuse India of working to subvert
   U.S.-initiated Afghan peace efforts.
   US-Taliban deal
   The U.S. credits Islamabad with facilitating Washington's landmark pact
   with the Taliban in February 2020, and the ensuing peace dialogue
   between the insurgent group and a team representing Kabul.

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