India’s soft power is very effective in Afghanistan

India’s soft power is very effective in Afghanistan

News: The article discusses the benefits of India’s soft power approach in Afghanistan.

Facts:

• Recently US President downplayed India’s approach and efforts towards Afghanistan’s development and asked India to play more assertive role in Afghanistan.
• But this perception was not welcomed by Afghans, Indians and US citizens who consider India’s soft power approach to be effective in Afghanistan no need for direct military involvement by India.
• India’s soft power approach in Afghanistan is based on three pillars:
  • Historic India-Afghanistan links.
  • Feeling of affinity due to Bollywood’s popularity.
  • India’s support to rebuild Afghanistan.
• Historic India-Afghanistan links: Afghanistan and India have 1,000 years of historic relations. There are countless Afghan-related monuments and historic and cultural items across India like Qutub Minar has synthesis of Afghan design. Similarly, there are more than a dozen sites in Afghanistan with Indian artwork.
• Bollywood link: India’s film industry has nurtured a feeling of friendship among Afghans. Most TV and radio stations in Afghanistan play Indian songs as part of their routine programming.
• India’s support to rebuild Afghanistan: India is the largest regional donor to Afghanistan, having provided $3 billion. The new parliament building, Salma dam in Herat province, and a highway to Iran’s Chabahar port, are a few prominent projects backed by India. India trains Afghan security forces and supplies modest quantities of defence gear.

Hence India has earned the respect of Afghan people by following the principle of non-interference through its soft power approach, ruling out the need for a direct military intervention.