New Delhi: The special envoy of US to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has spelt out the terror concerns plaguing both countries and how it directly affects India. He also highlighted the links between the ISI and the Taliban.
Acknowledging India’s concerns over any development in the war-torn nation, Holbrooke said: “India has a legitimate interest in Afghanistan. Pakistan-Afghanistan trade agreement doesn’t cut out India. Afghanistan can send goods to India and all future India-Pakistan trade agreements can include Afghanistan also.”
He said all those terror groups are working together and their sole purpose is to create a rift between India and Pakistan.
“Lashkar-e-Taiba is co-equal threat along with Al Qaeda. The LeT, al Qaeda and Taliban are all working closer together than ever before. The terror groups want to create a crisis between New Delhi and Islamabad,” he said, adding “better US-Pakistan relations are better for India too.”
The envoy said the al Qaeda and the Haqani group are equally dangerous and ruled out any reconciliation with the terrorist groups. On the links between the Pakistan intelligence unit ISI and the Taliban, he said: “The links between the ISI and the Taliban are a problem. US has spoken to Pakistan government and military on ISI’s links with the Taliban.”
Holbrooke allayed India’s fears on any development in Afghanistan. He said, “India’s role in Afghanistan is not diminished. It is for India to decide what it wants its role to be in Afganistan. US will back any efforts for better relations between India and Pakistan.”
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