Catastrophe in the world if Taliban triumphs: PM

New Delhi, Nov 20 : Emphasising the threat of civil war in Afghanistan if the US withdrew its forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has warned of 'catastrophic consequences for the world, particularly for South Asia' if the Taliban triumphed.

"I hope the US and the global community will stay involved in Afghanistan. A victory for the Taliban in Afghanistan would have catastrophic consequences for the world, particularly for South Asia, for Central Asia and for the Middle East," Manmohan Singh said in an interview to the Washington Post, prior to his visit to Washington.

"Religious fundamentalism in the 1980s was used to defeat the Soviet Union. If this same group of people that defeated the Soviet Union now defeats the other major power, this would embolden them in a manner which could have catastrophic consequences for the world."

"There is that danger," he added about the prospect of civil war in Afghanistan if the US withdrew.

Manmohan Singh's comments are significant, coming at a time when many are questioning US involvement in Afghanistan that has grown deeper and more costly since the invasion after the 9/11 attacks.

"We (in India) of course have more immediate concerns. We are victims of terrorism and the extremist ideologies of the type that the Taliban represent. If this is not checked, this could destabilise our country," he said.

"I hope the US public understands where it all started after 9/11. If Al Qaeda had not had a home in Afghanistan, maybe 9/11 would never have taken place. God forbid if Al Qaeda gets another strong foothold in Afghanistan."

The prime minister also pointed out that Pakistan was not sincere in acting against the Taliban.

"As far as Afghanistan is concerned, I'm not sure whether the US and Pakistan have the same objectives. Pakistan would like Afghanistan to be under its control. And they would like the US to get out soon," he said.

"The US objectives are to get Pakistan to deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan. But I don't see Pakistan wholeheartedly in support of action against the Taliban in Afghanistan. They are of course taking action against the Taliban but only when it threatens the supremacy of the army."

The prime minister also pointed out that Afghan President Hamid Karzai's regime was "not perfect" and there were "problems of improving governance".

"President Karzai's regime is not perfect. There are problems of improving governance. But you cannot transform Afghanistan overnight. It is going to be a long-term affair. Democracy, as the West understands it, may not be introduced in a short period of time in Afghanistan," he said.

"But the very fact that millions of Afghan children, including millions of girls, are now in school, when none was in school when the Taliban was in power, shows some human freedom. One has to take a balanced view. Now that President Karzai has been reelected, I think the time has come that the global community should rally behind him."

India is one of the major donors for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and has pledged over $1 billion in infrastructure projects vital to Afghanistan's economy.

--IANS