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A top Pentagon source informed US senators in Washington that India is worried about the present situation in Afghanistan.
“They (Indians) are worried about the situation in Afghanistan, as I’m sure you are aware.” They are concerned about the tension between the country’s vulnerability and their counter-terrorism concerns.” Colin H. Kahl, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, informed Senate Armed Services Committee members during a hearing on Afghanistan, South and Central Asia Security.
“They (Indians) want to cooperate with us on those issues, sharing intelligence and working where we can,” he added, noting that US and Indian national interests are currently very similar.
“It gives us a lot of opportunities to work with India, not only on Afghanistan and counter-terrorism, but on broader regional security issues in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific,” Kahl added.
Senator Gary Peters had asked him a question.
“The competition and proxy battles with Pakistan have largely influenced India’s Afghan policy. As a result, New Delhi should be concerned about the possibility that Taliban administration will aid anti-Indian terrorist groups, particularly those focused on Kashmir “He didn’t hold back.
“Given our commitment to constructive collaboration and interoperability with this critical partner, as well as the fact that India is the US’ only designated major defence partner,” Peters said.
Kahl co-chaired a US-India Defense Policy Group meeting earlier this month.
Senator Jack Reed asked another question, and Kahl said that while Pakistan is a demanding partner, it does not want Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists or external aggressors.
“They continue to grant us access to Pakistani airspace, and we’re in discussions about keeping it open; we’d be happy to discuss it in private.” But, for the time being, Pakistan and the United States are collaborating nicely in the fight against terrorism,” he remarked.
“Our incapacity to appropriately deal with Pakistan across successive administrations is another another example of the past being prologue.”
As we work to establish a regional counterterrorism strategy with other partners and friends, managing our security relationship with Pakistan will be crucial “Reed stated his opinion.
“That is why we must reflect on and evaluate the entire 20-year effort in Afghanistan,” he added.
