New Delhi:
India will be hosting the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10.
Pakistan is most likely set to give it a miss while Iran and Russia have confirmed participation at the crucial deliberations to be presided over by NSA Ajit Doval.
The participants from other countries are also likely the respective NSAs.
Sources said - two earlier meetings in this format have been held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019.
The third meeting in India could not be held earlier due to the pandemic, the source said.
There has been an overwhelming response to India’s invitation.
Central Asian countries as well as Russia and Iran have confirmed participation.
It is for the first time that all Central Asian countries, not just Afghanistan’s immediate land neighbours, are participating in this format.
"The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India’s role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan," the source said.
Invitations have been extended to China and Pakistan too, and "formal responses are awaited".
"However, Pakistan has indicated through the media that it will not attend," the informed source told this journalist.
The source categorically maintained that - "Pakistan’s decision is unfortunate, but not surprising. It reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate."
Pakistan has not attended the previous meetings of this format.
"Its media comments against India are an unsuccessful attempt to deflect attention from its pernicious role in Afghanistan," the soure said.
The high-level participation in next week’s meeting hosted by India reflects the widespread and growing concern of regional countries about the situation in Afghanistan.
This reflects the "desire" to consult and coordinate with each other.
India has an important role to play in this process, the source added.
Ends
The military-civil divide in Pakistan is too well known phenomenon and this has always kept India's western neighbour at the receiving end of criticism vis-a-vis upholding democracy. Therefore, each time Islamabad leaks the wounds, not many are surprised any longer.
"The group (TLP) that does not have any representation in the national parliament and has been proscribed as a terrorist outfit seeks to determine the country’s political and ideological course," laments a powerful and candid write up in 'Dawn'.
The writer Zahid Hussain says - "The little-known Barelvi militant outfit saw its rise after its first siege of the capital in 2017. It was the civil-military divide, and not its popular mass support, that turned it into a force to be reckoned with."
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The article also says: "After two weeks of blowing hot and cold, the PTI government (under Imran Khan) has apparently signed on the dotted line. It is the seventh time in the past five years that the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has brought the state to its knees. Each time it has returned more empowered."
On Oct 27, much to the embarrassment of authorities in Pakistan, the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan supporters celebrated 'capturing a police vehicle' during their protest march towards Islamabad.
At least four policemen were martyred and over 250 injured as 'thousands of workers' of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) clashed with law-enforcement personnel near Sadhoke in Punjab's Gujranwala district.
Though it emerged as the fifth largest party in the 2018 Pakistani general election, it had failed to win any seat in National Assembly and Punjab Assembly. However, it has been successful in winning three seats in the Sindh Assembly.
Things are certainly more serious than mere protest from a radical group as there are reports suggesting that the 'intelligence agencies' have backed the group.
Hussain also writes: "A few thousand zealots led by a foul-mouthed cleric virtually paralysed Islamabad for more than three weeks. A troubled civilian administration was rendered helpless because of the alleged support of the intelligence agencies for the mob."
Of course the trouble has come at the very doorsteps for Pakistan when it is not in best of financial health. Moreover, its questionable role in Afghanistan has only made it more vulnerable to fall 'isolated' in the comity of nations.
Imran Khan, a much popular cricket star of his time and who had captained the World Cup winning team of 1992, is still awaiting a tele call from Joe Biden. The US Prez seems to have forgotten to make the customary tele call to Pak PM after he took over charge.
The TLP had launched the latest round of protests in Lahore primarily to exert pressure on the Punjab government (in Pak) for the release of its chief, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi, the son of its late founder Khadim Rizvi.
The younger Rizvi has been kept in detention by the Punjab government since April 12 for “maintenance of public order", reports say.
However, TLP leader Pir Ajmal Qadri had later said the purpose of the move was "respect for the Holy Prophet (PBUH)", while also demanding Rizvi's release.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Thursday said that the chief of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Saad Rizvi, had insisted on the closure of the French embassy in his talks with the interior minister.
Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, the interior minister said: "[Contrary to what] one person — who is very respectable and is a major religious figure from Karachi — [says], when I spoke with Saad Rizvi, he was insistent on [the closure of the] French embassy and he was convinced that this [issue] be brought in the [National] Assembly.
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