Ties with Kabul

WHILE diplomatic efforts are underway to restore dialogue with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, as the Foreign Office has pointed out , talks can only succeed when there is a firm commitment from Kabul to end support for terrorist groups based on Afghan soil. During a briefing on Wednesday, the FO welcomed China’s efforts to bridge the gap between Kabul and Islamabad, but cautioned that only firm action from the Taliban could take the process forward.

Beijing’s envoy for Afghanistan was recently in Pakistan reportedly to restart the Urumqi process . The FO also downplayed the recent engagement of the Afghan ambassador to speak at the NDU as “not unusual”. This may be true, but the fact that the Afghan diplomat spoke at the nation’s top defence university at a time when bilateral ties are near rock bottom is significant. But, despite these efforts, the fact remains that terrorist groups based in Afghanistan are the biggest obstacle…