By: Aditya Vashisht
Afghanistan has become the focal point of attention once again as Taliban have finally taken Kabul. The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has left for Tajikistan and the country at the moment is without proper mechanism for administration. Many are lamenting the situation in Afghanistan and uncertainty looms large over the future of the highly volatile country. Indeed the vicissitudes for it have been too heavy.
One has to consider that the Taliban have been the masters of a well-planned strategy. From the moment of their ouster by the West in 2001, they retreated, resorting to tactics which minimized the scope of a direct confrontation. A change in the outlook regarding America’s forever war provided them an opportunity for reconstruction. They slowly amplified their activities, an example being that of opening an office in Doha (2013).
The Taliban took advantage of the capriciousness which characterized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. The agreement with the United States granted them recognition of being a legitimate party as well as a written promise of U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. They agreed to commence negotiations with the Afghan government, showing to the world a willingness to adopt peaceful methods. A clever approach was maintained throughout the negotiations. The Taliban, while participating in the peace talks, didn’t show convergence on some issues, examples being the Talibani passivity in maintaining the prisoner swap agreed to between both the sides as well as the continuation of terrorist attacks.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to Taliban to start their offensives, albeit slowly. Enter into 2021 and the Taliban mount their attacks while at the same time sending their representatives to various countries, their spokespersons assuring the international media that they support stability through legitimate procedures. Come August 2021 and the world is witness to the rapid fall of Afghan provincial capitals into the hands of the Taliban and on the second Sunday of this month, they entered Kabul.
The Taliban had been cognizant of the fact that the negotiations in Doha wouldn’t be conducive to their objectives. Emboldened by the agreement in February 2020 with the United States, they took resort to arms. Control over nearly the whole country gives them a colossal leverage and has secured for them a fortified place in deciding the future of the country.
The question that arises now is that what are the prospects for India? Our Afghan policy has neither been as deep as the U.S.A nor as shallow as that of Japan. The Indian investment in Afghanistan has been more concentrated towards facilitating the development of Afghanistan; with Foreign minister Dr. S. Jaishankar stating that India has undertaken “400+ projects in 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces” at the Geneva conference held in 2020. As of July 2021, Indian investment in Afghanistan totaled to $ 3 billion, much of it sans demand for reciprocity.
But the point of contention is our engagement and our role in the future of the country. Denunciation of Taliban and the near absence of statements by the Indian government regarding the spiraling situation in Afghanistan as of now raise many questions. How will India assert its role in the new circumstances which have provided other regional players to reinforce their clout in the war-torn nation?
The withdrawal of the West has created a vacuum which Russia and China, our partners-cum-adversaries are seeking to fill. The Taliban’s solemn promises to China regarding the security of their interests and their acceptance of the Chinese narrative of its activities in Xinjiang signal many things. The Russians are the principle backers behind the PAKFUZ initiative under which Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to build a trilateral railway network. Admiration of the Afghan public as well as the general animosity towards our rival Pakistan can be touted as source of strength. But these aren’t fruitful in a country where the few on the basis of their armed prowess decide the affairs of the nation.
This forced neutrality requires a break and we need a source through which we can come to terms with the changed landscape in our neighbourhood. The Islamic Republic of Iran can aid us in this pursuit. It isn’t without reason that Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has visited Iran twice within a span of one month. Chabahar port is an example which is always touted to be a symbol of our convergent interests with Iran. But there are other spheres too where Indo-Iran ties can play a role! The precarious situation in Afghanistan is going to be challenging for Tehran. An influx of refugees is to be expected with some seeking habitation while many traversing Iran to reach Turkey or Europe. Also to be mentioned is the fact that Afghanistan could also become a breeding ground for anti-Shiite extremists as well as other terrorist groups.
The Pakistani backing of Taliban is also a major factor which New Delhi can utilize in its engagement with Tehran, thus converting its anti-terrorism stance into a key asset. Iran is also seeking to invigorate its political clout in Western Asia. With the Iraqi assertion of independence in foreign affairs, the anti-establishment sentiment in Lebanon and the increasing isolation in its shadow war with Israel, a waning of the Iranian influence over Middle-Eastern affairs can be seen. Afghanistan can be an opportunity where Tehran could add vitality to its influence and New Delhi can be a good partner for achieving that. Developments can reach to a point where India and Iran together can provide a better alternative than the messy policies of the West as well as the cynicism which shrouds the Russians and the Chinese.
The situation in Afghanistan isn’t permanent and any measure of stability will require some years, taking into considerations the number of interests covering the landlocked nation. Since India’s policy has been focused on the maintenance of neutrality and the achievement of peace, New Delhi need not bear much responsibility for the current security situation, which is also owed to its lack of engagement in that sphere. Engagement is much better than adopting a passive approach. This policy can bear some results and at the same time, adaptability can be ensured towards any future development.
Writer is a blogger & Student-adityavashisht07@gmail.com
