India Afghanistan Relations
India’s Change in Position:
- Given the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and the shifting power dynamics there, India’s participation in the intra-Afghan peace negotiations suggests that it has modified its position.
- Pakistan now has a significant role to play in Afghanistan, either directly or through its proxies as a result of the USA’s withdrawal.
- Some observers, however, felt that India chose to show up since the Afghan government was also present at the ceremony.
- The Taliban are still not recognised in India.
India’s Position:
- India feels that Afghan leadership, ownership, and control are essential components of any peace process. i.e. It must uphold Afghanistan’s geographical integrity and national sovereignty while advancing democracy and human rights.
- Additionally, it must protect the advancements made in the creation of an Islamic Republic with a democratic government in Afghanistan.
- Minorities’, women’s, and other vulnerable groups’ interests must be protected, and the issue of violence in the nation and its neighbourhood must be appropriately addressed.
- Additionally, Indian interests in Afghanistan, including those of the Indian Embassy as well as Indian businesses and employees, should be safeguarded.
- Afghanistan should be “autonomous and sovereign,” according to India.
- It is apparent from the usage of the phrases “independent and sovereign” that Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) shouldn’t have any influence over Afghanistan’s political system.
Background:
- The United States reached a settlement with the Taliban that prepared the way for the complete withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan and marked the beginning of the end of the country’s 18-year war.
- A phased withdrawal of US troops and “intra-Afghan” communication were two procedures that the peace agreement was supposed to launch.
- The agreement is a crucial step in delivering a thorough and long-lasting ceasefire as well as the long-term political roadmap for the Afghanistan peace process.
Interests of India in Afghanistan:
- India has a significant stake in Afghanistan’s stability. India has contributed significantly to the advancement of Afghanistan. Examples include the Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, and the Salma Dam, a dam between Afghanistan and India.
- The entrance to Central Asia is through Afghanistan.
Concerning issues:
- India worries about Pakistan’s ISI’s connections to the Taliban and its attempts to utilise the Haqqani network to threaten Indian interests in Afghanistan.
- Pakistan, which opposes any security role for India in Afghanistan and sees India’s presence there as damaging to its interests, continues to weigh in on India’s Afghanistan policy.
- Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Laskar-e-Toiba (LeT), two organisations responsible for a number of terrorist attacks against India, are linked to the Taliban as well.
- The Taliban are still not recognised in India. However, if it considers the option of entering into direct talks with the Taliban, it would constitute a major departure from its consistent policy of dealing only with recognised governments.
Steps to Take Next:
- India needs to reconsider its choices and adopt a more all-encompassing strategy to engage with all factors that are crucial to Afghanistan’s future.
- India needs to be more flexible in modifying its maximalist posture and opening communication with the Taliban given the shifting political and security environment.
