TURKEY ASSUMES ROLE TO BROKER AF-TALIBAN PEACE
Turkey is emerging as the new player in the unfolding Afghanistan peace process. As Afghanistan and Pakistan work on a peace road map, with the active assistance and blessings of the U.K. and the U.S.A. Turkey has stepped in, even offering to host senior Taliban leaders released by Pakistan for reconciliation talks with the Afghan government.INDIA STAKE
Although India is not part of the deal, India will be deeply affected by the outcome of whatever political process is implemented in Afghanistan. And with a strong presence on the ground in Afghanistan, India will be keen to ensure that its own red lines about the accommodation of Taliban in a future Afghan government are respected.Therefore, Shivshankar Menon, National Security advisor, will travel to Turkey in February for talks on Afghanistan with his counterpart, Muammer Turker, as well as foreign secretary, Feridun Sinirlioglu. India is likely to lay out a few of its own perceptions-first, that the US withdrawal should be accelerated.
The December Trilateral Summit During the December trilateral Summit of Asif Zardari, Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Gul in Ankara, a proposal was floated to invite the Taliban to set up office in Turkey. This would be similar to the help given by Turkey to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Sources said that Turkey would probably not go as far as to allow Taliban to open an office, but they would be willing to let peace talks between Taliban and Afghanistan happen in their country. But Turkey's involvement may not go down well with many groups inside Afghanistan. Certainly Dostum and the Uzbeks, as well as the Hazaras, say analysts, would have reservations, which would need to be managed if this initiatives is to go through.
The Taliban tried, unsuccessfully, to open an office in Qatar in 2011-12. In the revived peace initiative through a roadmap, the west has pushed for a Taliban office in Saudi Arabia, given that country's old connections with the extremist group. However, sources said, Pakistan prefers Turkey as a neutral venue more than Saudi Arabia. This is significants because Saudi Arabia is generally believed to be Pakistan's premier patron, apart from the US. But Saudi Arabia has been seen to be taking a tougher line on extremist and terrorist ideology of late, which may have tilted the balance for Turkey. Pakistan's comfort level with Turkey is very high, its army taking inspiration from their Turkish counterparts for years. Pakistan's Interest Pakistan's army chief, General Kayani too is reportedly keen to achieve some kind of a peace breakthrough in Afghanistan, which would preserve Pakistan's interests. Kayani, just 9 months shy of retirement, has reportedly come under fire from his colleagues for the mess in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In recent years, Turkey has also expanded its own foreign policy initiatives-through the so-called Arab uprising, Turkey has projected itself as a successful Islamic democracy.
Muslim Brotherhood found an early home in Turkey, though Syria, a close neighbour, refused to legitimize the group.
Turkey is becoming an important partner for India as well, building convergences between two rising economies. Recently, Turkey offered to be a transit country for the international north-south corridor connecting South Asia with Central Asia and beyond to Russia and even Europe.
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