Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15

India now has a new cause for worry that involves the movement of its old ally and friend Russia towards Pakistan.The reason underlying the shift is Afghanistan amid Russian concerns that the Islamic State will reach Russia if not checked. To fight the IS, Russia is now backing the Taliban and that is where it finds itself on the same side of the fence as Pakistan. While Afghanistan has denounced the Russian “contacts” with the Taliban and even accused it of supplying it with modern warfare, for India the worry is greater.Officially today, India said it has nothing to state on the relations between Pakistan and Russia. However, it was quick to reiterate the “special” relationship that India shares with Russia but in the same breath India stuck to its old position on the Taliban and said that the Taliban have to respect the “internationally agreed red lines, give up terrorism and violence, sever all ties with al-Qaida, agree to follow democratic norms and not to do anything which will erode the gains of the last 15 years”.The controversy erupted with Russian Ambassador to Kabul Alexander Mantytskiy stating that his government maintains ties with the Taliban but they are not “intensive”.“Yes, we do have contacts (with Taliban) but they are aimed at ensuring safety of Russian nationals and encouraging the Taliban to engage in peace talks (with Kabul),” Mantytskiy told the Afghan senate committee on international relations on Saturday.

New Delhi sticks to stand on terror

• India reiterated the ‘special’ relationship it shares with Russia but in the same breath stuck to its old position on the Taliban
• It said the Taliban have to respect the ‘internationally agreed red lines, give up terrorism and violence, sever all ties with al-Qaida, agree to follow democratic norms and not do anything which will erode the gains of the last 15 years’