Analysts: Afghanistan Should Stay Neutral Between India and Pakistan
As tensions between Kabul and Islamabad persist more than a month after their escalation, signs indicate that these developments have coincided with the visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, to India.
The strengthening of Kabul’s ties with New Delhi appears to have cast a shadow over its already fragile relations with Pakistan.
Recent verbal clashes and mutual accusations have once again brought the strained relationship between the two countries to the forefront of political discussions in the region.
According to some political analysts, Afghanistan must adopt a neutral and balanced regional policy, particularly in its dealings with India and Pakistan, to avoid becoming an arena for rivalry between powers.
Seyed Jawad Sajadi, an international relations expert, said: “To avoid falling into the trap of India-Pakistan confrontation, Afghanistan must pursue a balanced, moderate, impartial, and neutral policy.”
Meanwhile, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in response to Pakistani officials’ remarks, emphasized that New Delhi would not intervene in the disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He described India’s foreign policy as based on peace, mutual respect, and non-provocation.
“These accusations are completely baseless and unfounded,” Rajnath Singh said. “We don’t believe in any conspiracy or intrigue. We want peace across the world and support it. We will not provoke anyone to engage in conflict. However, if anyone provokes us, we will not remain silent.”
This comes after Pakistani officials earlier alleged that India was using Afghan territory against Islamabad. However, during his visit to India, Amir Khan Muttaqi had stated that expanding ties with one country does not equate to hostility toward another.
