Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and Its Neighborhood, Issue: India – Afghanistan Relations.
Context:
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day India visit marks the first Taliban high-level visit since 2021, signaling cautious diplomatic re-engagement.
Historical Context of India–Afghanistan Relations
- Civilisational Linkages: India and Afghanistan share deep cultural, linguistic, and trade ties dating back to the Silk Route and shared Buddhist heritage.
- Eg: The Kabul–Gandhara–Taxila corridor was a conduit for Indo-Greek and Buddhist exchanges.
- Diplomatic Support: Post-1947, Afghanistan was the only country to oppose Pakistan’s UN membership, highlighting early political affinity with India.
- Developmental Engagement: India invested over $3 billion in reconstruction after 2001 building the Salma Dam, Afghan Parliament, and Zaranj–Delaram Highway, cementing goodwill.
- Humanitarian Assistance: Post-2021 Taliban takeover, India maintained “people-centric engagement” providing 50,000 tonnes of wheat, medicines, vaccines, and scholarships.
- Current Relevance: Despite non-recognition of the Taliban regime, India has adopted a de facto engagement policy through humanitarian channels and regional dialogues (e.g., Moscow Format, Heart of Asia).
India’s Strategic Rationale for Engagement with Afghanistan
The Jaishankar–Muttaqi meeting marks a cautious yet important move toward normalizing India–Afghanistan ties, balancing security concerns with engagement and reaffirming India’s commitment through its upgraded Kabul mission.
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