Topics Covered: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Afghanistan’s Power Sharing Deal
What to study?
For Prelims: Overview and particulars of the deal.
For Mains: Significance of the deal and challenges ahead.
Context: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah have signed a power-sharing deal, ending months of political uncertainty.
Overview of the deal:
- Mr Ghani will stay on as president.
- Dr Abdullah will lead peace talks with the Taliban, should they get under way.
- The deal calls for Abdullah to lead the country’s National Reconciliation High Council and some members of Abdullah’s team would be included in Ghani’s Cabinet.
- The Reconciliation Council has been given the authority to handle and approve all affairs related to Afghanistan’s peace process.
What’s the issue?
Mr Ghani and Dr Abdullah – who both claimed victory in last September’s election – last month held rival inauguration ceremonies.
The Afghan electoral commission says incumbent Ashraf Ghani narrowly won the vote, but Mr Abdullah has alleged the result is fraudulent.
Significance of the deal:
The deal comes as Afghan authorities are hoping to enter peace talks with the Taliban to end years of violence.
It is hoped the deal in the capital Kabul will help to maintain the balance of power that existed before last year’s disputed presidential election.
U.S.- Taliban peace deal:
A peace deal between the U.S. Government and the Taliban was signed on 29 February, 2020.
The deal calls for U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops to leave Afghanistan.
The deal is seen as Afghanistan’s best chance to come at peace in decades of war. Since then, the U.S. has been trying to get the Taliban and the Afghan government to begin intra-Afghan negotiations, but the political turmoil and personal hostility between Mr. Ghani and Mr. Abdullah has impeded talks.
Significance of Peace in Afghanistan for India:
India has welcomed the deal. It has called for renewed efforts for establishing enduring peace and stability, and putting an end to externally-sponsored terrorism and violence in Afghanistan.
Economically, it is a gateway to the oil and mineral-rich Central Asian republics.
Afghanistan has also become the second-largest recipient of Indian foreign aid over the last five years.
Sources: the Hindu.
