US must keep India in loop on Afghanistan: BJP chief

The US had lost its focus in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan by partnering with Pakistan, BJP president Rajnath Singh has said as he asked the Obama Administration to keep India in the loop on any new initiatives in the region.
The BJP leader said that the US had a mix bag of experience in partnering with Pakistan in this war against terrorism.
"The US has made Pakistan a partner in its war on terror in Afghanistan in the last ten years. The results have been a mixed bag. While the Taliban and Al Qaeda have lost many key leaders and thousands of fighters they continue to hold on to their strongholds in the South and East of Afghanistan and also inside Pakistan territory," Singh said.

"This happened primarily because along the way sometime in 2003/4 the US had lost focus due to its campaigns elsewhere and the terror outfits had gained the breathing space to regroup and resurrect. The result was further fleecing of American dollars by Pakistan, further dependence of America on that country and further rise in the activities of terror networks," he said.
Singh also asked the US to address the issue of terrorist safe havens in Pakistan as a top issue, arguing without this America can't think of winning the war against terrorism.
He said the US has to make its own decisions regarding the final scope and time-table of withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"As a major power in the region, India needs to be properly informed about any US' initiatives in the region besides other countries," he said.

He said it was important to ensure that Afghanistan doesn't relapse into the pre-2001 anarchic mode once the NATO troops withdraw.
"It must be ensured that we do not leave behind a Black Hole' of global security while leaving that country," Singh said.
The BJP leader also cautioned the US against any peace talks with the Taliban arguing that the terrorist outfit is unlikely to change its behaviour and reconciliation effort would be a futile exercise.