India, Russia firm up presence in Kabul

Atul Aneja

ALMATY, NOV. 27. As the United States clears the decks for a Pashtun ground offensive

against the Taliban in Kandahar, India and Russia appear to be consolidating their presence in Kabul.

Around 10 large Russian IL-76 planes have landed at Bagram, bringing with them personnel from the Russian ``Emergency Ministry'', construction specialists and diplomats. The Russians, according to media reports here have arrived at the invitation of the acting President of Afghanistan, Mr. Burhannudin Rabbani.

Significantly, the visit of the teams was preceded by consultations between Moscow and Washington, indicating that their understanding on Afghanistan which first became visible during the visit to Moscow by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage, and consolidated during the Crawford summit continued to hold.

Nearly a 100 Russian personnel will now coordinate transfer of humanitarian supplies in the area. Russian teams are also expected to clear the mines along the road between the strategic Bagram air base and Kabul.

In a related development, diplomatic sources here said that Russian military engineers who are part of the Russian 201 motorised division in Tajikistan have joined a team of Germans and Tajiks to build another bridge over the Panj river separating the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan from Afghanistan. Once the bridge is constructed, it will speed up the transfer

of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan by road. With the fall of Kunduz, the chances of access by road from Tajikistan to Mazar-e- Sharif and further south towards Kabul have increased.

Apart from Russia and Iran, the Northern Alliance's third key supporter, India, also appears to be consolidating its presence in Kabul. Military contacts between the Northern Alliance and India in Kabul could get streamlined in the coming days, the sources said. India has already registered its diplomatic presence in Kabul and is now reviving a hospital

for women and children in the Afghan capital.

As the end game in Afghanistan gathers momentum, Iranian diplomacy has gone into top gear. Apart from its influence over the Northern Alliance, especially the Shias and the Sayyaf group, Iran is beginning to exploit its clout over expatriate Afghans who are now closeted in a conference in

Bonn.

Iran, for instance, exercises considerable influence over the Afghan expatriates who form part of the ``Cyprus process.'' In fact, Mr. Humayun Jareer, who is part of the group is reportedly based in Iran. Iran has also opened its other diplomatic flanks to acquire an influence in post-conflict Afghanistan. Unlike Russia or even India, Iranian diplomacy

has to take into account its troubled relations with the U.S., notwithstanding the increasing intensity of behind the scenes contacts between these two countries.

Analysts here point out that deployment of U.S.

marines in close proximity to the main communication artery between Afghanistan and Iran must have rung alarm bells in Teheran. Not surprisingly, the Iranians are now pushing their external profile even harder. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr. Kemal Kharrazi is expected visit Pakistan shortly.

Among the western countries, Iran is reaching out to the French with considerable energy. Iranian leaders have just concluded talks with the French Minister of International cooperation, Mr. Charles Josselin. Mr. Josselin has also visited the Central Asian frontline states of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, had incidentally in Dushanbe reportedly discussed the possibility of positioning French troops in the republic.

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Section  : International
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