The end-game in Afghanistan

In a round-table discussion on Afghanistan organized by the Takshashila Foundation, SUMIT GANGULY, SHANTHIE MARIET D'SOUZA and MUKUL ASHER  provided the U.S., Indian and economic perspectives of the current situation in Af-Pak, implications of a U.S. withdrawal from the region starting 2011 and policy options for India.  The panelists brought out the fact that although New Delhi viewed the U.S. presence as ideal to its own security calculus, it had little leverage in ensuring a continued presence. Washington's and New Delhi's interest in Afghanistan was mostly from a security angle and the economic angle in terms of Central Asian gas reserves was less prominent. New Delhi drew a strong distinction between re-integration of the Taliban, i.e. socio-economic accomodation which it was in favor of and reconciliation which meant a political role for the Taliban in Kabul which it was totally against. In the wake of the targeting of Indian personnel in Afghanistan, New Delhi would not quit although its armed contingent was modest. It would expand its current economic assistance program to include microfinance in partnership with Bangladesh.  One commonly asked question was the idea of promoting nationalism among the Baloch, Pashtun and Sindhi communities in Pakistan as a response.