Why is Pakistan making India a key figure in its dispute with the Taliban?

Pakistan's fears over closer India-Taliban ties are influencing its approach to peace talks with Kabul, analysts say.

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Islamabad, Pakistan – On October 28 after negotiators from Pakistan and Afghanistan hit a wall in talks to extend their fragile ceasefire after deadly border clashes, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif blamed a third country that wasn’t even present during the dialogue: India.

In a television interview, Asif claimed that India had “penetrated” the Afghan Taliban leadership. That, he insisted, was the reason for the escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.