India needs to help the militancy-plagued Pakistan which is “on the brink of collapse” or else it would end up sharing its western border with the Taliban, a noted Pakistani author has warned.
“If Pakistan slides further, you (India) would be sharing border with the Taliban,” Ahmed Rashid, author of the best-seller “Descent into Chaos”, said.
In a speech at the Women’s National Democratic Club, he said that the Indian version of the Taliban is in the pipeline or could pop up soon.
Observing that Pakistan was on the brink of collapse and the situation demanded appropriate swift steps by the government of day, the military and the US, Rashid said if Taliban succeed in their objective of having control over Pakistan, it would be more dangerous for India.
Referring to the infiltration of extremists and terrorists from Pakistan to India, he said that though infiltration is a serious problem now, New Delhi will face “the real danger” if Taliban get control of Pakistan.
Urging India to review its national security policies, Rashid, considered to be an authority on the Taliban, said New Delhi needs to be flexible when it comes to Islamabad and it needs to take steps to help improve bilateral ties.
At the same time, Rashid praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for being “very very patience” in the wake of a series of terror attacks, including in Mumbai.