THIS is apropos of a news item, ‘Karzai seeks Indian military aid amid tensions with Pakistan’ (May 20). The details of the news is very alarming from Pakistan’s viewpoint.

It is a pity that Afghanistan is looking towards India for military training and supply of arms only to be used against Pakistan. This is because our diplomacy has failed.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have a shared history, culture, language, ethno-religious similarity, and geographical contiguity. Everything is in our favour, yet we are far from winning the hearts and minds of our Afghan brothers.

Anything military, they can get from Pakistan. Afghanistan shares a large border with Pakistan. If they join our military academies/institutions, they will feel more at home.

Many Afghans are already studying in our universities. In Indian academies, they must be feeling at a loss. To say that it won’t hurt Pakistan is too simplistic an approach.

India giving all types of military aid to Afghanistan is going to vitiate the atmosphere beyond any shadow of doubt.

It should not be taken lightly at any cost by Pakistan. Pakistan should not only grudge but denounce all such moves by India.

SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI Karachi