
Seven steps to rebuild bridge to Kabul
The four-year-old Taliban rule in Kabul has belied these fears. If anything, relations between Kabul and Islamabad have been tense. When I met Suhail Shaheen, a senior Taliban leader who headed the Doha political office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in February 2024, he said, 'India should shed the suspicion that the Taliban is 'close to Pakistan' and 'against India'. Our government is firmly committed to the principle that we shall not allow anybody to use our soil against India or any other country.' I have met several Taliban officials since then, and all of them have expressed the same view.
There is a belated realisation in New Delhi that the current government in Kabul should not be treated as an adversary and that it can even be an important ally. This has resulted in a flurry of diplomatic contacts over the past year. When External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar phoned his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi on May 15, and 'deeply appreciated his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,' it marked the highest-level communication between Delhi and Kabul.
Yet, New Delhi is tardy in elevating the ties with Kabul. On July 3, Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. China, the UAE and Uzbekistan have designated ambassadors to Kabul. Beijing hosted a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in May; the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will now be extended to Afghanistan. India, too, should establish normal ambassadorial relations with Afghanistan without any delay.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
PM Modi arrives in London, historic India-UK trade deal on agenda; Says 'focus will be on job creation, growth and...'
PM Modi arrives in London, historic India-UK trade deal on agenda; Says 'focus will be on job creation, growth and...' Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached London on Wednesday evening for a two-day trip to the United Kingdom. He said that building a strong bond between India and the UK is important for the world's development. 'I have landed in London. This visit will help make the economic ties between our countries even stronger. The main aim is to support growth, create more jobs, and bring more prosperity to our people. A close friendship between India and the UK is very important for the progress of the world,' on social media platform X. PM Modi was welcomed at the airport by Catherine West, the UK Minister looking after the Indo-Pacific region, along with India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, and the UK's High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron. Landed in London. This visit will go a long way in advancing the economic partnership between our nations. The focus will be on furthering prosperity, growth and boosting job creation for our people. A strong India-UK friendship is essential for global progress. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025 As he arrived, groups of community leaders, students, and members of the UK Parliament gathered near London to greet him with excitement and warm wishes. Touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in the UK. Their affection and passion towards India's progress is truly heartening. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025 'It's a proud moment for both countries, and especially for Indians living in the UK. Everyone is very happy to see the Prime Minister here after a long time. Even though it's a short visit, we're glad we got the chance to welcome him,' said Kuldeep Shekhawat, head of the Overseas Friends of BJP, while speaking to news agency PTI. What's on agenda? During his two-day trip to the UK, PM Modi will hold important talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and also meet King Charles III. Starmer will host him at Chequers, his official country house located just outside London. A major highlight of the visit is expected to be the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and steps to strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). In a statement before leaving India, PM Modi said, 'Our cooperation covers many areas such as trade, investment, technology, defence, education, health, research, environment, and strong connections between our people.' The two leaders are expected to focus mainly on boosting economic ties. Their goal is to support growth, create more jobs, and make trade easier between the two countries. As part of the trade deal, both sides are working to lower or remove taxes on goods they import and export, making products from India and the UK more affordable and competitive. They aim to raise two-way trade to USD 120 billion by 2030. In 2023–24, trade between India and the UK crossed USD 55 billion. The UK is currently India's sixth-biggest investor, having put in around USD 36 billion. Nearly 1,000 Indian companies in the UK employ about 1,00,000 people. Meanwhile, Indian businesses have invested nearly USD 20 billion in the UK. This is PM Modi's fourth visit to the UK since he became Prime Minister. His earlier visits were in 2015, 2018, and 2021 (for the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow). Over the last year, he has also met PM Starmer twice—once at the G20 summit in Rio and again at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in June.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Many migrants leave Gurgaon amid police drive to identify 'illegals'
GURGAON: Making a living washing cars in the city for the last six years, Karimul Islam was among several Palra residents packing their bags and leaving on Wednesday. A backpack slung over his shoulder and a one-way flight ticket in hand - paid for by his worried family back in West Bengal - 24-year-old Karimul boarded an auto, saying this was perhaps the last time he would see Gurgaon. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In this slum settlement, and in several such colonies in the city, hundreds of migrant families have either left or are preparing to leave, afraid of "being targeted" in the ongoing drive to identify Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living illegally in the Millennium City. "I have documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, but they're not listening to anyone. They are rounding up people randomly and detaining them. I had to ask my family for money to buy a flight ticket because trains are not available at such a short notice," said Karimul. Over the last six days, around 400 people have been rounded up in the city, according to sources, for verification of documents. 'Afraid as we don't know what's next' Around 250 are still inside the four community centres in Sector 10A, Badshapur, Sector 40 and Manesar that are doubling as detention centres. What is driving these fears, according to migrant workers living in these colonies, is the perception that any Bengali-speaking person could be targeted in the verification drive. Locals said around 200 migrants at Baliawas in Sector 58 had left for Assam in batches. Others accused police of assaulting their family members and picking them up randomly, saying they were "shattered to be treated like criminals". Saminul Islam from Assam said he has been living in Baliawas for the last 15 years and calls Gurgaon home. His wife and two children are here too. "Suddenly, we are being labelled as illegal Bangladeshis. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Several of our relatives have been detained in community centres even though they possess identity proofs of their citizenship. We are Indians, not criminals," he said. "There's fear because we don't know what's going to happen next," said Panahrul Islam, who is among Palra residents to have stayed back. "Every night, we fear someone will come knocking on doors, asking for papers. But even after people show documents, they are taken away. Some have been taken away while returning from work," added Panahrul, who cleans building glass facades. For 29-year-old Sukhi Bibi, who works as a domestic helper in housing societies in sectors 69 and 70, Friday night was a nightmare. "They took away five people from our house. If my husband had been home, he would have been taken too," she said. "They are targeting the men first. My husband and children are leaving the city. I haven't gone to work because of constant fear," she said. Sukhi Bibi added, "Agar hum Bengal se hain, aur Bengali bolte hain, to kya hum Bangladeshi ho gaye? West Bengal is desh ka hissa hai (If we are from Bengal and speak Bengali, does that make us Bangladeshi? West Bengal is part of this country." Asiman Bibi (20) said her husband was taken six days ago and the family has not been allowed to meet him since. "We don't know where he is. He used to clean cars. We have all his documents, but they are not even telling us which centre he's in," she said. Shabnam Bibi, who claimed that her husband was picked up despite having valid identity documents, sat outside her locked room in Sector 58 holding her two children. "We have lived here for 12 years, worked hard, paid school fees. Now we are suddenly criminals? My husband was rounded up and I don't know where to go now," she said. With no communication from the authorities, legal aid or clarification on the verification process, there is a vacuum in which all kinds of rumours, like talk of mass detentions and deportations, have begun to swirl, amplifying the sense of panic. "We have been working in Gurgaon for the last six years but there is no one to stand with us now. So people are just leaving with just a bag, even without tickets," said Asadul Sayeed, a scrap dealer in Palra. Taramiya said he was among those who were rounded up in Baliawas and taken to a police station for verification four days ago. "They wrote our names in the register. When we were being taken to the police station, the cops claimed that we would be released after verification. I was released but some others detained," said the labour contractor, who is from Assam. He alleged 11 people picked up from Sector 103 were assaulted by cops and only released when they paid Rs 1.2 lakh. "I am also being forced to leave Gurgaon with my daughters who study in class 2 and 3 at govt school in Behrampur," Taramiya added. Salilur Rehman (44) of Assam, another labour contractor, also alleged people he knew had been assaulted. Police refuted allegations of assault and bribery and said cops were working according to protocols. "There are CCTV cameras at police stations where they were taken for verification as well as at the community centres. No such incident of assault or bribery has taken place. We are following the legal process and have already identified eight Bangladeshis who were residing here illegally. Legal proceedings have started to deport them," Gurgaon police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said. A detainee at Sector 10A community centre, meanwhile, said people in their settlement had decided to meet the police with their papers, rather than live in fear. "After learning about the verification drive, 16 of us went for verification voluntarily. Despite having documents, we were sent to the detention centre last Saturday. We work as contractual sanitation workers with the corporation," he said.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Pak steeped in terrorism, says India as Islamabad rakes up J&K in UNSC
UNSC NEW DELHI: A "serial borrower" from the IMF, Pakistan is steeped in fanaticism and terrorism, said India at the UN Security Council (UNSC) as Islamabad brought up the Jammu & Kashmir issue in an open debate it organised under its July presidency of the council on peaceful settlement of disputes. The meeting ended with the unanimous adoption of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution urging member states to effectively utilise mechanisms for pacific settlement of disputes as outlined in the UN Charter Article 33, including "negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration... or other peaceful means of their choice". The resolution did not name J&K or any other issue. In the debate presided over by Pakistan deputy PM and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, the US representative doubled down on President Donald Trump's ceasefire claims, saying that the US leadership delivered "de-escalations between Israel and Iran, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and between India and Pakistan". After Dar raised issues related to J&K and New Delhi's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, Indian ambassador P Harish responded by asserting that it ill behoves a member of the council to offer homilies while indulging in practices that are unacceptable to the international community. "The Indian sub-continent offers a stark contrast in terms of progress, prosperity and development models. On the one hand, there is India which is a mature democracy, a surging economy and a pluralistic and inclusive society. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo At the other extreme is Pakistan, steeped in fanaticism and terrorism, and a serial borrower from the IMF," said Harish, adding that zero tolerance for terrorism is one of the fundamental principles that need to be respected while promoting international peace and security. The open debate on unresolved disputes was one of the signature events that Pakistan was organising under its presidency of the council, the other being the upcoming meeting on UN-OIC cooperation. The resolution on pacific settlement of disputes was generic in nature, as it is unlikely it would have found unanimous support from the council by explicitly mentioning or talking about disputes. Pakistan had through the resolution urged full use of all Chapter VI mechanisms of the UN Charter for peaceful resolution of disputes between nations, hoping to spotlight the J&K issue. While Article 33 of the Chapter states that the parties to any dispute shall seek a solution by, among other things, mediation and arbitration, it also says the parties can seek a solution through "other peaceful means of their own choice". For India, its emphasis on bilateralism in line with the Simla and Lahore Declarations conforms to other peaceful means. Apart from Pakistan, Turkiye was the only country to bring up the J&K issue in its remarks in the open debate. In his remarks, Harish highlighted the fact that the Chapter begins with a recognition that it is the 'parties to a dispute' who must first of all seek a solution by peaceful means of their own choice. "National ownership and consent of parties are central to any efforts to achieve peaceful resolution of conflicts," he said. Harish also said that there should be a serious cost to states who violate the spirit of good neighbourliness and international relations by fomenting cross-border terrorism, while mentioning the Pahalgam terrorist attack and its condemnation by the council that underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism to justice. "India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which was focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. On achieving its primary objectives, a cessation of military activities was directly concluded at the request of Pakistan," he said.