India left standing in Afghan musical chairs

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http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME21Df01.html

Think of Afghanistan policy as a game of musical chairs. When the United States this month killed Osama bin Laden, it stopped the music.

Now everybody's scrambling to make sure they have a seat.

Pakistan, despite its myriad failures as a partner in the "war against terror" is guaranteed a seat. It has managed to establish itself as an unavoidable interlocutor in negotiations with the Taliban. Thanks to signature American diplomatic clumsiness, Pakistan will also be reserving a chair for America's main strategic competitor in Asia - China.

As the American orchestra is packing up, its favored South Asian


partner, India, is nervously trying to squeeze its way onto a chair.