India Taliban relations

INTRODUCTION

India and Afghanistan share a historical and cultural bond, furthered by India's active role in Afghanistan's reconstruction and development. Since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, India has carefully navigated its engagement, focusing on humanitarian aid and people-centric initiatives while aligning with global approaches.

About Afghanistan

❖      Land and Topography: Afghanistan spans 652,230 sq km with a harsh, dry topography. It is landlocked, bordered by Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, and India (in disputed PoK).

Taliban seeking recognition

The meeting gains importance for the fact that no country, including India has formally recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. However, some nations have established de facto diplomatic ties:

●       China: Accepted a Taliban-appointed ambassador in January 2024.

●       UAE: Recognized a Taliban diplomat in August 2024.

●       Russia: Allowed Taliban control of Afghan missions and indicated a willingness to delist them as a terrorist group.

The international community remains hesitant due to the Taliban's human rights record, especially restrictions on women's rights and education. India currently only has a technical team in Afghanistan.

❖      Timeline of Afghanistan's History and Governance

➢      1747: Ahmad Shah Durrani unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan, establishing it as a strategic entity in the region.

➢      1919: Afghanistan gained independence from British influence following the Third Anglo-Afghan War, solidifying its sovereignty.

■        Afghanistan served as a buffer state between the British and Russian Empires during the Great Game, with both powers vying for influence in the region.

➢      1973: A coup led by Mohammad Daoud Khan, ended the monarchy and established a republic.

➢      1978: A communist countercoup led by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) overthrew Daoud Khan’s government, marking the beginning of political turmoil.

➢      1979: The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the communist regime, triggering a devastating conflict that lasted for a decade.

➢      1989: The USSR withdrew after enduring heavy resistance from the mujahideen, who were supported by the US and other international actors.

➢      1996: After years of civil war, Kabul fell to the Taliban, a hardline, Pakistani-backed movement that imposed strict Islamic rule.

➢      2001: Following the September 11 attacks, the US and Allied forces intervened in Afghanistan, toppling the Taliban for sheltering Usama bin Laden and dismantling the Al-Qaeda network.

➢      2001: The Bonn Conference, a UN-sponsored initiative, established a framework for Afghanistan’s political reconstruction, leading to the drafting of a new constitution.

➢      2004: Hamid Karzai became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan after the country’s first presidential election.

➢      2005: Afghanistan held its first National Assembly elections, marking a significant step in its political development.

➢      2001-2021: The Taliban waged an insurgency against the Afghan government and international forces, leading to years of instability and violence.

➢      2020: The US-Taliban Agreement was signed, in which the US agreed to withdraw its forces in exchange for the Taliban’s commitment to counterterrorism and other security assurances.

➢      15 August 2021: The Taliban took over Afghanistan after the rapid withdrawal of US and NATO forces, marking the end of the 20-year US-led intervention.

■       The Taliban established an all-male interim government dominated by Pashtun clerics, led by Haibatullah Akhundzada.

■       Despite the Taliban’s control, no country has officially recognized them as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Key Points About the Meeting

●       High-Level Engagement:

○       First high-level bilateral engagement with the Taliban regime.

○       Previous engagements were at the level of Joint Secretary, making this meeting an upgrade in official diplomatic ties.

●       Issues Discussed:

○       India’s Security Concerns: Taliban acknowledged India’s concerns, particularly ensuring that anti-India terror groups are not allowed to operate from Afghan soil.

○       Humanitarian Assistance: India evaluated its ongoing programmes, including the supply of wheat, medicines, vaccines, and earthquake relief.

○       Development Projects: India expressed readiness to engage in development activities beyond humanitarian aid, responding to Afghanistan's urgent needs.

○       Refugee Rehabilitation: India pledged support for rehabilitating Afghan refugees, especially those returning from Pakistan.

○       Trade and Connectivity: Discussed the promotion of trade and humanitarian activities through Iran’s Chabahar port.

■       India received a reprieve from US sanctions on Chabahar to ensure access to Afghanistan.

○       Sports Cooperation: Strengthening cricket ties was highlighted as an area of collaboration, with India providing training facilities for Afghan cricketers in Noida.

●       No Mention of Rights Issues: The MEA statement did not address the protection of women’s rights, minority rights, or inclusion in the Taliban-led government.

●       Five key reasons for India's engagement with the Taliban

○       Pakistan: Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of harboring Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militants, resulting in cross-border airstrikes and complicating regional dynamics, which India views as an opportunity to counterbalance Pakistan's influence.

○       China: Actively engaging with the Taliban, aiming to tap into Afghanistan's natural resources and integrate the country into its Belt and Road Initiative, including large-scale urban development projects.

○       Iran: Distracted by internal and regional issues, including the Israel conflict and considers the Taliban as a “reality” in the region.

○       Russia: As Russia, preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, seeks to build ties with the Taliban for counterterrorism cooperation.

○       United States: With the possibility of a return of Donald Trump to the White House, India is preparing for potential shifts in U.S. policy towards the Taliban and is aiming to maintain its influence in Afghanistan amidst changing global dynamics.

History of Relations

India’s Stance on Afghanistan
India shares deep historical ties with Afghanistan but, like others, has not recognized the Taliban government. India adheres to agreements like the 1950 "Friendship Treaty" and UN resolutions, including UNSCR 2593 that called for an end of terrorism in Afghanistan post Taliban take over..

Diplomatic Engagement
Since the Taliban's 2021 takeover, India has held meetings with Taliban leaders and stationed a technical team at its Kabul embassy to maintain communication.

Contributions to Afghanistan

●       Humanitarian Aid: 50,000 MT wheat, 300 tons medicines, 27 tons earthquake relief, 40,000 litres pesticides, 100M polio doses, 1.5M Covid vaccines, and other essentials.

●       Drug Rehabilitation: Partnered with UNODC to assist Afghan drug users, focusing on women.

Educational Support

●       Scholarships via ICCR for 3,000+ Afghan students (600 girls) since 2021.

●       Online scholarships for 1,000 students, 30% reserved for women.

●       Continued collaboration with ANASTU in agriculture studies.

Development Partnership

●       Projects: 500+ across all provinces in power, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc.

●       Key Initiatives:

○       Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health: A 400-bed paediatric hospital serving 3 lakh children annually.

○       Afghan-India Friendship Dam: Supplies 42 MW electricity and irrigates 75,000 hectares of land.

Challenges

➔      Trust Issues with the Taliban

◆      India remains concerned about the Taliban’s potential links to anti-India militant groups, although the Taliban has adhered to its commitment of not allowing such activities on Afghan soil.

◆      Since August 2021, the Taliban’s rule has curtailed basic freedoms, particularly for women, with bans on education, work, and movement, conflicting with India’s democratic values and complicating diplomatic engagement.

➔      Erosion of Afghan Trust: India’s abrupt disengagement post-Taliban takeover and its halt on visa services disappointed many Afghans students, particularly women, lost educational opportunities, further straining ties.

➔      Geopolitical Constraints: Pakistan and China have strengthened their influence in Afghanistan, using economic and political leverage.

◆      The Taliban’s reliance on Pakistan-backed groups, like the Haqqani network, undermines India’s strategic presence.

➔      Humanitarian Crisis and Aid Mismanagement: Limited mechanisms for direct distribution of India’s aid weaken the impact of Indian humanitarian efforts.

➔      International Recognition and Legitimacy: India’s engagement risks inadvertently granting the Taliban the legitimacy they seek, complicating India’s stance on democracy and human rights.

◆      The lack of recognition of Taliban government has made it impossible for India to give Afghans visas to visit India for healthcare and studies.

What to expect in the future? (Box)

●       Future Engagements: Both sides agreed to maintain regular contact at various levels, keeping the door open for future political engagements.

●       Strengthened Connectivity and Trade: India’s development of Chabahar port, in collaboration with Iran, is expected to improve access to Central Asia, enhancing trade and connectivity via Afghanistan.

Strategic Positioning Against Pakistan and China: India’s outreach to the Taliban could disrupt Pakistan’s influence and counterbalance China’s growing presence in Afghanistan, benefiting India’s regional strategy.

CONCLUSION