Syllabus: India and its neighborhood- relations
Context: Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited New Delhi. India must pursue step-by-step engagement for Afghanistan’s stability, projecting humanitarian credentials and ensuring security interests.
Joint Statement & Security
- Joint statement angered Islamabad; Taliban condemned Pahalgam attack (April 2025) and promised not to allow territory against India.
- UN Report: Commended Taliban actions against Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) but questioned capability
Counter-Narcotics Cooperation
- Taliban’s drug eradication mostly successful but cultivation uptick and meth labs reported.
- India faces huge drug seizures along borders.
- Proposed: NCB training, crop substitution, farmer security, export facilitation.
Water Security: Shahtoot Dam
- Kabul may run dry by 2030 due to war damage.
- India reiterated Shahtoot dam offer on Kabul river but this will alarm Pakistan (16% flow drop)
- Kabul river part of Indus system – should be in new multilateral treaty.
Education & Skills
- Women’s education paramount but few Taliban leaders support it.
- Current Initiatives
- India announced 1,000 e-scholarships through Indian Council of Cultural Relations but it is insufficient.
- Online education option needs extension to all major colleges with special dispensation in foreign exchange regulations.
- Focus on areas where India plans investments (e.g., mining mentioned in joint statement).
- Develop skills in Afghanistan to minimize Indian presence and create local employment.
Way Forward
- Whole-of-Government Approach
- National Security Council Secretariat needs strengthening.
- All government arms (finance, water, power) must work toward specific objective: keeping Afghanistan friendly and stable.
- Objective must remain constant across governments for India’s permanent relevance.
- Pakistan Factor
- Pakistan army has no stake in stability and wants to dominate Taliban.
- Ordinary Pakistanis (Pashtuns) have cross-border ties;Â
- Potential revenues from Afghanistan trade and transit estimated at $10 billion.
- International community must work on systemic change and democracy in Pakistan.
Conclusion
- India’s engagement with Afghanistan should focus on humanitarian assistance, counter-narcotics cooperation, water security, education, and skills development. This is not a zero-sum game with Pakistan and can deliver stability to Pakistan if accepted.
