The Hindu : Afghan Defence Minister coming

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 05, 2002

National

National

Afghan Defence Minister coming

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI MAY 4. India is set to receive the Afghanistan Defence Minister, Mohammad Qaseem Fahim, tomorrow as part of an exercise to reconstruct the war-torn nation.

Gen. Fahim, who took over the military command of the Northern Alliance after its leader Ahmad Shah Massood's assassination in September last, exercises considerable influence in the Afghan interim government. Along with the Interior Minister, Younus Qanooni, and the Foreign Minister, Abdullah Abdullah, he is part of the core group belonging to the Panjsher Valley that holds the key levers of power in the interim administration. India has been close to Northern Alliance, though it had also later reached out to the ethnic Pushtuns.

Given Gen. Fahim's political clout, the timing of his four-day visit to India is significant. For instance, Gen. Fahim would be in the capital at a time when the Loya Jirga — the powerful assembly of Afghan elders — is about to be formed. The formation of the Loya Jirga acquires significance, as this body after it has been constituted will appoint an Afghan transitional government, which, in turn, will lead to elections after a new Afghan constitution has been drawn.

Recognising the importance of the visit, the Government has decided to roll out the red carpet for Gen. Fahim. The Afghan Minister will hold talks with the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh and call on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Government sources here said Gen. Fahim's stay here is important on two other counts as well. First, his visit will give an opportunity for discussions on the security situation inside Afghanistan. The Pashtun-dominated southern Afghanistan continues to remain restive and, in fact, saw an assassination attempt on Gen. Fahim recently. Pakistan, analysts say, is likely to re-acquire some of is lost influence, especially in the south, through some of the supporters of former Taliban commanders who have been spotted in that country. Significantly, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, recently visited Kabul and handed over a cheque of $ 10 million to the interim government.

Incidentally, India may also have to factor in the Afghan security scenario before opening its consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar. As of now, India, after opening its embassy in Kabul is all set to open its consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat by mid-June. These consulates may be opened when India hands over the next batch of 25 buses to Afghanistan shortly, sources said.

Second, Gen. Fahim's visit is likely to see discussions on the formation of an Afghan national army.

India, along with several other countries, may now be inclined to send personnel for training Afghans in their country rather than ferry them into India for training.

Gen. Fahim's visit takes place at a time when India's reconstruction drive in Afghanistan is gathering momentum.

An Indian technical delegation belonging to the Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) is planning to visit Afghanistan to study the possibility of reconstructing some of the dams that had been damaged during the last two decades of conflict.

A delegation from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has studied the revival of Afghan television and radio stations while the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has opened an office in Kabul recently.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National