In a detailed and comprehensive interview that both analyses the developing situation in Afghanistan whilst discussing India’s response and what it should hereafter do, one of the country’s most highly regarded former foreign secretaries have said this is “an undoubted setback for India, there is no other way of describing it.” Shyam Saran also said, “the biggest winner is Pakistan”. In fact, he described the Taliban take-over of Afghanistan as “a Taliban invasion sponsored and abetted by Pakistan” and added that without the support of the Pakistan army and ISI the Taliban could not have swept through Afghanistan with the speed at which they did.
In a 45 minute interview with Karan Thapar for The Wire, Mr. Saran said the collapse of the Ghani government and the shattering images of the withdrawal from Kabul is “humiliating” for America. He said the US “image and credibility as an ally has been greatly damaged.”
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