Delhi is not altogether happy about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. The impact of the change in US policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan is beginning to be felt even before the New Year. The US is showing a new cordiality with the Pakistan army. The engagement between Kabul and Islamabad is intensifying. The first round of talks between the Taliban and the Karzai government in Paris has caused repercussions in India’s north western marches. Delhi is distinctly uncomfortable about the goings on. President Barack Obama is determined to bring to an end the longest military engagement of the US in Afghanistan since 2001. It is just not interested in prolonging its presence despite international pressure. The US has turned to the Pakistan army for help in bringing about a smooth withdrawal. It has made up with Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s military headquarters though it is aware that Pakistan has been following a double-edged policy in Afghanistan. Washington has agreed to release $700 million towards military aid to Pakistan. The renewal of arms supplies paves the way for Taliban entry into Kabul and hardened the Pakistan army’s attitude towards India.
Rawalpindi has agreed to help negotiations with the Taliban in chalking out a programme for power sharing in Kabul. Kabul is as eager as Washington to come to terms with the Taliban. Pakistan has recently released Taliban captives and persuaded the Taliban to evince flexibility in Paris without making significant concessions. Delhi has rightly warned the US and the Karzai government not to trust the Taliban and Rawalpindi. But Delhi’s closeness to the US since 2001 is on the wane. The influence of Pakistan and its proxies is bound to grow in Kabul in the next few years.