'The really striking thing is that the Taliban has suo moto presented to us certain firm benchmarks against which it expects us to hold to account the Taliban rulers's actions in the period ahead' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The US government has urged Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to stop a secret Iran-Taliban pact against North Atlantic Treaty Organistion troops in Afghanistan.
"They've got elections coming up, but effectively the national government (led by Hamid Karzai) seems very detached from what's going on in the surrounding community," Obama said, clearly expressing his displeasure over the functioning of the Afghan President, considered close to former President George W Bush.
Karzai, who will be making his second visit to New Delhi in five months, will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday on the latest developments related to the terror strikes. The main purpose of the visit, which was scheduled during the last few days, is to convey Afghanistan's condolences and solidarity with India in the wake of Mumbai attacks, official sources said.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has offered an olive branch to Taliban chief Mullah Omar, assuring him security if the latter gave up fighting and came forward for talks.
India named a road in the national capital after the slain Afghan war hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud, the first such honour extended to a leader from that country.
Karzai said Afghanistan wanted India and Pakistan to sort out their problems.
President Hamid Karzai has wondered why Islamabad allowed Indian diplomatic mission on its soil if it was a security threat for them.
Musharraf meets US commander over Afghan allegations
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai slams Pak, defends India's role in Afghanistan
Karzai is on a visit to Pakistan and spoke along with President Musharraf.
India on Tuesday said the inclusion of Afghanistan in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation would go a long way in establishing lasting peace and stability in the region.
A feisty Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari says there is no likelihood of his being deposed in a military coup, but if it does happen it will be because the United States along with other democratic countries has had a hand in it.
Karzai told CBS television network that he had recently delivered the message privately to President George W Bush.
Karzai warned Pakistan that Afghanistan was no longer weak.
Kenzo Oshima led a 10-member mission to Afghanistan earlier this month.
The Second Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan begins in New Delhi on November 18.
The daring terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday has come at a time when the resurgent Taliban has threatened to escalate a campaign of suicide bombings in an attempt to topple the government of President Hamid Karzai, who was himself targeted by the militants in April.
In all, about 290 Indians are engaged in various projects in Afghanistan.
'I actually believe it's not all that appropriate that there be an Indian Consul on the border with Pakistan,' says Afghan expert Sarah Chayes.
'Polls have shown that about 70% of Afghans are waiting to see which side to pick - the US/NATO forces or the Taliban.'
Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has urged the United States to strike a deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan on the pattern of the Swat pact, saying that the real threat was from the Al Qaeda. "The only way forward is dialogue, which is what (Afghan President) Hamid Karzai is finally saying. You have to start talking to the Taliban," Khan said. He warned that US President Barack Obama's Afghan policy is 'exactly the same way as the mess' made by Bush.
"That has its own significance of resolving our problems between Pakistan and Afghanistan, misunderstanding between Pakistan and Afghanistan," Musharraf said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with officials on Monday night soon after taking over.
In a video found on Islamist websites late Wednesday, Osama bin Laden's deputy called all Afghans, particularly students in universities and schools in Kabul, to take on the foreign 'infidels' in Afghanistan.
Karzai said that Pakistani government wants the Afghan government fail so that it can use the Taliban to turn Afghanistan into a colony of Pakistan.
Sharing concerns over the recent spurt in terrorism in Afghanistan, India and Afghanistan Monday agreed on a collective fight against the menace and sought Pakistan's cooperation.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will undertake a week-long visit to India from April 9 to further consolidate ties between the two countries.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai sprang a huge surprise when he said that he is not against the idea of a joint force of Afghanistan and Pakistan to patrol the volatile border between the two countries. He was replying to a specific question of Thomas E Freston, investor in media business at the event of the Asia Society in New York.
Newsweek has carried a report that says Karzai's move may not have been wise.
Afghanistan became a SAARC member in 2006.
'Their offices are in Pakistan. Some of their hideouts are in Pakistan,' says Afghan envoy Masood Khalili.
"Foreign troops should at once leave Afghanistan, and then the institutions they created should be dismantled. Unless this happens, war will heat up further. It will not recede," the one-eyed Omar said.
"Afghanistan is now stable but is grappling with problems like illiteracy and health care. There is need to build institutions to resurrect the country and we are doing it," Karzai said.
'I've been a member of the family really. But I certainly am critical of a number of the ways that, in particular the President, has run his country.'
In the midst of war of words between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, even US President George W Bush seemed helpless.
