Context
Afghan President Hamid Karzai reassured Pakistan that his country’s partnership with India and potential one with the US was not a threat to its neighbor. ”I wish to reassure our neighbors … that none of our partnerships we forge now or in the future shall pose a threat to our neighbors or to our region,” he said.
The pact which allows for Indian forces to help train and equip Afghan security personnel has raised concerns in Pakistan, which views the move suspiciously. Although relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have improved significantly, Pakistan is still wary of Indian influence in the region. Pakistan is also at odds with Washington, which has increased its pressure on the Islamabad to do more in the fight against terrorism. Karzai referring to his neighbors said there was a need for collective regional cooperation which required “overcoming trust deficit”.
