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How and why should India deal with Afghanistan now? 

GS Paper 2

 

Context: 

Taliban recently seized more major cities and raced to take full control of Afghanistan with the U.S. and Britain deploying troops to evacuate their citizens. 

What is the issue? 

Non-governmental player Taliban has been making advances to return to power with sheer display of violence after USA’s decision of withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

 

Afghanistan and its strategic location: 

Significance of Afghan stability :

    • Can have spill over to Neighbouring central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekiatan etc
    • Taliban resurgence will revive extremism in the region and the region can become a safe sanctuary for Let,ISIS etc. 
    • Civil war in Afghanistan will lead to a refugee crisis in Central Asia and beyond. 
  • Afghanistan’s stability will help the Central Asian countries with the shortest access to the seaports of the Indian ocean. 
  • Afghanistan has been an important link in the regional trade, cultural, playing the role of a connecting bridge for Central and the rest of the world. 

 

Why it is imperative now for India to engage with Taliban? 

  • Taliban is now having a significant presence in Afghanistan. 
  • India is already having huge investments in Afghanistan.To secure assets worth $3 billion, India should engage with all parties in Afghanistan. 
  • Taliban engaging with Pak deep state will not be in India’s best interest. 
  • If India does not engage now Russia, Iran, Pakistan and China will emerge as the shapers of Afghanistan’s political and geopolitical destiny, which for sure will be detrimental to Indian interests. 
  • The U.S. has announced a new, surprise formation of a “Quad” on regional connectivity — U.S.-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan that does not include India. 
  • India’s effort to trade with Afghanistan Via Chabahar port in order to increase the economy on scale. 

 

Need of the hour: 

  • Urgent need to collectively act for the safety of Afghan civilians by checking violence by Taliban
  • Afghanistan should be given enough space in Central Asian architectures like SCO (Shanghai cooperation organisation)
  • The USA,Iran,China,and Russia should actively involve India to maintain stability in Afghanistan. 
  • Unified action for the refugee crisis if it arises. 
  • Indian engagement with Taliban to maintain peace with immediate neighbours. 

 

Insta Curious: 

Know about the US- Taliban peace deal: Click here

 

InstaLinks: 

Prelims Link: 

  1. About Taliban. 
  2. Afghan Crisis. 
  3. About NATO. 
  4. India’s investments in Afghanistan Projects. 

Mains Link: 

Discuss why India should engage with Afghanistan now. 

Sources: the Hindu.