Afghanistan and India set to forge closer ties as Afghan leader visits New Delhi during an unstable time in region.
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| The talks in New Delhi could include training for Afghan forces, which might strain ties with Pakistan further [Reuters] |
Tuesday's visit comes against a backdrop of shifting relations in the region.
During his second trip to the Indian capital this year, Karzai will meet Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, and sign several strategic agreements, including some on development aid and security.
| Abdul Ali Seraj tells Al Jazeera Pakistan should stop being paranoid about Afghanistan's relations with India |
They argue that Karzai is losing patience with Pakistan, whom he accuses of funding anti-government groups, and is unable to count on the US.
"Karzai's visit comes at a crucial juncture to endorse India's involvement in Afghanistan," Saeed Naqvi from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank told the AFP news agency.
"Karzai is coming to India to confer on India the tag 'reliable ally'... India will get the right to play a more pronounced role [in Afghanistan] after Karzai's visit."
The Indian Express newspaper reported on Sunday that Karzai would sign a "strategic partnership" agreement with Singh, the first such pact with any country in the world.
The proposed alliance, which foreign ministry officials declined to confirm, was said to include an Indian commitment to increase its training of Afghan security forces, including the police.
Indian involvement in Afghanistan is sensitive because of the delicate and often deadly power games in South Asia.
Pakistan's 'double-game'
In a primetime national address on Monday, Karzai accused Pakistan of "pursuing a double-game", saying Islamabad was not co-operating in the battle against armed groups to establish peace in Afghanistan.
Karzai said he had always stood by friendly relations with Pakistan, hoping to face the challenge of cross-border extremism together, but that the neighbouring nation had failed him, continuing to use "terrorism as a means".
"The Islamic republic of Pakistan has not co-operated with us to bring peace and security to Afghanistan, which is unfortunate for us," he said.
He also called for a review of his country's plans to pursue peace with the Taliban, saying he would focus on talking to governments and not specific groups related to them.
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| Afghans took to the streets of Kabul on Sunday, chanting slogans against the Pakistani authorities [Reuters] |
"The killings show that our call for peace has not seen a positive response. One-sided desire for peace will not bring a resolution. Peace can only be achieved with those who believe in it."
"We have to fight decisively against those who do not believe in peace."
Karzai's comments follow Pakistan's criticism by Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, who accused Pakistan's intelligence agency last month of playing a role in the recent attack on the US embassy in Kabul.
Mullen called the powerful Haqqani network, operating out of Pakistan's borderlands, a "veritable arm" of Pakistan's ISI military intelligence.
The Haqqani network has denied links to the ISI and also involvement in last month's assassination of Rabbani.
Afghan officials have blamed the Taliban for the September 20 turban bombing, saying Rabbani's killer was Pakistani and that the attack was plotted by the Afghan Taliban's leadership body, the Quetta Shura, in Pakistan.
The network is considered loyal to the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Omar, and has a seat on the Taliban leadership council.