ISLAMABAD Recent developments implying mega shift in the US, Afghan policy aiming at luring Taliban are termed by some diplomatic circles prior to the latest advancements as carrot and stick phenomenon, on account of some ironical flaws evident in this futile exercise. While a highly questionable and reportedly planted news item about a meeting of the UN Afghanistans Chief with the moderate Taliban of 'Quetta Shura made headlines in local and foreign media, the secretive yet frequent meetings on intensive patterns between Indian diplomats and Afghan government officials have gone unreported, strangely. This newspapers information indicates that over a dozen tiptoe meetings had taken place between Afghan diplomats and government officials with their Indian counterparts during last week. Senior UN officials were also reported to be the part of some of these meet-ups that discussed modalities of giving Indian presence a considerable space in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the insiders see the troops surge alongside dialogue as carrot and stick policy completely incompatible with peace efforts. Dialogue process, additional troops, and military training programmes cannot go hand in hand. They (US) want peace with Taliban holding a machine gun in their hand Is it going to work? I wonder if it ever does a credible European diplomat told this correspondent the other day. One of the major hurdles that would keep dialogue process between Taliban and the US far from success is the increased reliance on Indian presence in Afghanistan. Even the moderate Taliban are not ready to bear with Indian presence, let alone the ideological Taliban, a Muslim diplomat said. The other day I read in the newspapers that the US military believes eighty percent of Taliban are not ideological, what a deviation from the reality he added. Informed circles see the ridiculous assertion regarding 'non-ideological Taliban being in majority as 'last straw of some losers to save their skin. Even moderate Taliban are not ready to comply with India due to the fear of massive fallout within their own ranks in case they resort such an audacious move. In addition, Indo-US nexus in Afghanistan is all about military build-up followed by economic motives, Indian forces seek direct role in Afghanistan for training Afghan troops and 'striking peace on Afghan soil. Based on the past experiences, Taliban would never trust the US, why would Taliban go for negotiations particularly when they are winning this war, another representative of an Eastern European diplomatic mission told this journalist. If US military command is hopeful about talks with Taliban to be conclusive, why are they amassing military troops in South he asked referring to the launch of mega military offensive in Southern part of Afghanistan. After some Muslim countries have voiced concerns on growing Indo-US nexus and Pakistans military command has conveyed to the NATO and its allies that Pakistan could not be sidelined and it sought an active role for the resolution of Afghan crises, followed by some 'soft statements for Pakistan by senior US military command, the concerned Indian diplomats are undergoing extensive negotiations with Afghan government and have shifted their policy towards Pakistan initiating peace talks. Not only the neighbouring Muslim and other key regional players hold serious reservations about Indian unjustified participation in Afghanistan, but the Taliban themselves have shown reluctance and rejection towards US newly devised Afghan policy. Amid troops surge and training programmes, that too with Indian involvement, peace is not likely to prevail in Afghanistan. carrot and stick policy would keep producing counterproductive outcomes unless a clear uniform cohesive policy is introduced for administrative and political reforms in Afghanistan.