Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Vijay Nambiar Discussed with UN special envoy to Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi formation of a broad-based government in Afghanistan replacing the Taliban, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. Nambiar held talks with Brahimi for over an hour on Tuesday during which they exchanged views on the progress made in setting up a new government in Afghanistan, the sources said.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has written letters to heads of the five nuclear powers and seven other countries strongly favouring setting up of a mechanism involving India, the group of eight industrialised nations and the UN on questions concerning the future of post-Taliban Afghanistan.
India would like to add its voice to others in the international community, emphasising the urgency for tackling these issues in an international framework including countries which have legitimate interest in, and influence on, these matters, he said. Pakistan has consistently opposed India's involvement in any political and military formulation in Afghanistan, saying New Delhi has no stakes as it is not an immediate neighbour of Afghanistan.
Brahimi is visiting Pakistan to hasten the efforts of the international community to expedite the formation of a broad-based government in Afghanistan, which could take over power in the event of the fall of the Taliban regime.
He met Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday and held lengthy discussions on the issue.
Bureau Report