US says it's in touch with India to monitor Afghanistan, Cong demands explanation from Centre

We are deeply engaged with India across the board. With regard to any specifics about over-the-horizon capabilities and plans that we put in place and will continue to put in place, I’d rather take it up in a different setting, Blinken told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the pullout from Afghanistan.

New Delhi: A day after the media reported that the US has requested India to allow its land to stage airstrikes on Taliban-ruled Afghanistan quoting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Congress has demanded the government to issue a clarification.

Blinken had on Monday (US time), said that Washington is now "deeply engaged" with India for "over-the-horizon" capabilities to keep a check on Afghanistan and the new Taliban regime there.

"We are deeply engaged with India across the board. With regard to any specifics about over-the-horizon capabilities and plans that we put in place and will continue to put in place, I’d rather take it up in a different setting," Blinken told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the pullout from Afghanistan. "I’m talking northwest India as a potential because Qatar and Doha are just a little bit too far," said Blinken, adding, "The Taliban knows the consequences of harbouring terrorists, especially those from al Qaeda."

Taking cognisance of this, former Union minister and Congress senior national spokesperson Manish Tewari, a series of tweets, questioned the government whether the media reports were true. "Is it correct that US@SecBlinken has approached India to allow its bases in Northwest to be used for Air Strikes against Afghanistan @PMOIndia needs to clarify ASAP. Whichever nation has allowed the US to utilise its soil for Military operations blowback has been devastating."

Manish Tewari's series of tweets

According to Tewari, countries that have lent their land to the US for their military operations have suffered. He cited the examples of several countries, including the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, and Latin and South America.

"Over the past 70 years, no foreign forces have ever been allowed to base themselves in India. It would constitute the gravest violation of India’s sovereignty. From Okinawa, Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea Iraq Afghanistan, Latin & S America history is littered with the debris & consequences of allowing any US or other foreign Military presence on a Nations soil. Such basing rights would be a frontal attack on India’s sovereignty and a complete sell-out of our National interest. It needs to be neutered in the bud (sic)," read his another tweet.

Blinken' statements come days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden at the Quad summit on September 24.