Dr.

RAMESH KUMAR

INDIA-PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN TRIANGLE
Introduction o It is the triangular relationship between one SECULAR Republic nation and two ISLAMIC REPUBLIC nations o It is the triangular relationship between one landlocked nation and two MARITIME nations o It is the triangular relationship between one major opium producing nation and two major opium consuming nations.[ according to reports]

Geostrategic significance of Afghanistan o It acts as connecting link between central asia and South Asia o On one side it is located along with Oil and gas rich region [ central asian nations] and on other side it is located along with worlds second largest, most populous and fastest growing economy. On south, it is bordered by nation which is sponsoring and also affected by terrorism. o Political Instability of Afghanistan has wider ramifications all over the Asia. Geostrategic significance of India o India can act as Connecting link between South East Asia and AfPak region.

o Indias experience with its successful democratic experiment and economic growth can act as model to Afpak region to come out of political instability. Geostrategic significance of Pakistan o Bridge between South Asia and South West Asia o Iran and Afghanistan are energy abundant while India and China are lacking of. China finds way to Indian ocean and Arabian Sea through Korakaram [ see the map] o Pakistan offers to Cental Asian Republics the shortest route of 2600 km as compared to Iran (4500 km) or Turkey (5000 km). land locked Afganistan now at the phase of Reconstruction, finds its ways through Pakistan. o Stephen Cohn describes this importance While history has been unkind to Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit. o Pakistan has resource rich area in the north-west, people rich in the northeast. o Pakistan is a junction of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia, a way from resource efficient countries to resource deficient countries. o US interests in the regions to contain the Growing China, nuclear Iran, terrorist Afghanistan, and to benefit from the market of India. Security and Business are two main US interests in the region while Pakistan is playing a front line role against terrorism Triangular relationship during soviet war in Afghanistan o The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year war during the Cold War fought by the Soviet Army and the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen guerrilla movement o India supported Russia and Afghan government. But USA and Pakistan supported Mujahideen either directly or indirectly. Opium weapon & its impact on neighboring nations

o Nations surrounding the Afghanistan want to control the opium production in that country. Opium not only transported illegally to surrounding countries but also provides money to Taliban for terrorist activities Golden crescent o The Golden Crescent is the name given to one of Asia's two principal areas of illicit opium production (with the other being the Golden Triangle), located at the crossroads of Central, South, and Western Asia o This space overlaps three nations, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, whose mountainous peripheries define the crescent, though only Afghanistan and Pakistan produce opium, with Iran being a consumer and trans-shipment route for the smuggled opiates o The Golden Triangle is one of Asia's two main illicit opiumproducing areas. It is an area of around 367,000 square miles that overlaps the mountains of four countries of Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. o Along with Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Golden Crescent, it has been one of the most extensive opium-producing areas of Asia

Golden Triangle

Balochistan factor

o Balochistan liberation army actively fights with Pakistan army to get independence to Balochistan region. Pakistan suspects that both India and Afghanistan are indirectly providing assistance to Balochistan liberation army. Taliban Factor & its impact on triangular relationship o US could not eliminate the Taliban completely from Afghan Soil for last 10 years. Because Taliban are getting economic assistance via selling opium. Now US planned to separate Taliban into Moderate Taliban and Extremist Taliban. o Pakistan is indirectly providing assistance to Taliban for encouraging antiIndia activities and to control Afghan. Afghanistan Pakistan Transit route agreement o Presently Pakistan provides Afghans export to India via Pakistani land. But not the Indian goods to Afghan via Pakistan. Terrorism and its impact on triangular relationship between these nations o Karzai said Pakistan was a bigger victim of terrorism than Afghanistan or India o Afghan government slammed the ISI for its role in assassinating former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani. Karzai himself accused Pakistan of playing a double game on terrorism. Afghan presidents statement regarding GREAT FRIEND & TWIN BROTHER o Pakistan is a twin brother. India is a great friend. The strategic agreement with our great friend would not affect our twin brother. Neither India nor Afghanistan intend this strategic partnership to go beyond us Why India gives more importance to Afghanistan o For India, Afghanistan is the gateway to Central Asian markets and energy resources.

India Afghanistan Strategic partnership agreement and Pakistans concerns o Pakistan's fears about India-Afghan ties are both ideological and strategic o As early as 1950, India and Afghanistan signed a treaty of friendship. For both New Delhi and Kabul, close ties were seen as important o Today India is one of the leading regional donors to Afghanistan, providing around $2 billion in aid since 2002 o Pakistan has repeatedly objected to India maintaining four consulates in Afghanistan in addition to an embassy in Kabul. o In October 2011, India and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement, the first Afghanistan signed with any country o Indian companies have invested in Afghanistan and a consortium of Indian steel companies led by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) was recently awarded a block in the Hajigak iron ore mines Durand line controversy between Pakistan and Afghanistan [ already covered in previous mail] Benefits if three nations cooperate true in letter and spirit o If three nations cooperate in true sense, it will come beneficial to all nations o Pakistan can earn billions of dollars via transit route [ Oil supply + goods transport] o India can import oil from Iran via Pakistan [ Iran Pakistan India pipeline project or IPI project] or can import oil from Turkmenistan to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan. [ TAPI project]

o Without solving Kashmir issue, it is difficult for India and Pakistan to take their relationship forward in true sense. o Terrorism knows no region, no religion. It has no place in modern globalized world. So all three nations should cooperate so that South Asia can be declared as terrorism free zone. o If three nations actively involve in Pan Asian rail network project, it will boost the economic growth of overall region. Finally 21st will belong to Asia. [ASIA CENTURY]