The Indian challenge in Afghanistan

News: Recently, a massive earthquake hit Afghanistan. Consequently, the Indian Air Force was moved in with tonnes of relief material, making India a ‘first responder’.

About the quake

The massive earthquake was centered around the Afghanistan- Pakistan border. It was measured 5.9 on the Richter Scale.

Relief Measures

(A) Overall

Due to proximity, Pakistan was able to send relief aid quickly, declaring that the aid was from “the people of Pakistan”. In addition, Iran also sent relief material by air.

Taiwan has offered $1 million despite not being a member of the world body due to Beijing’s objections.

Japan, South Korea, and the UAE have also responded to the UN’s appeal for aid to Afghanistan.

The United States Agency for International Development also announced aid without making any specific commitment.

The UN Security Council allowed sanctions exemption for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

(B) Indian Specific Relief Measures

India announced plans to send a technical team to “closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders” for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.

However, India probably asked for aid to flow through the Iranian route, instead of Pakistan. It was because India’s aid in Afghanistan was being diverted to Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s Response to Indian Relief Measures

Afghan officials have welcomed not only aid, but called for the restarting of small projects across the country.

What are the challenges in providing relief aid?

There are difficulties involved given the broken Afghan banking and financial systems and lack of infrastructure.

The U.S. instructions mandate that all aid should be in cash, since no banks will do business or accept letters of credit to the Afghan central bank (DAB). Although Cash transfers to the DAB are possible, its own reach to the furthest parts of the country is doubtful.

The UN organizations also provide cash, and aid agencies have long had to use reliable local hawala networks for transfers. India will not agree to large-scale Indian aid being spent in this manner.

What are the challenges to the reconstruction of Afghanistan?

It will be difficult to transport the requirements for reconstruction, through territory other than Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s domestic industries have been side-lined by Pakistan, Turkish or Chinese ones. For example, Pakistan’s cement companies such as Lucky Cement.

Most of the UN activity for Afghanistan is done through Pakistan. For example, that major UN agencies and the International Organisation for Migration are present in Pakistan.

Security issues: There is a presence of the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) in many parts of Afghanistan. In recent times, it has become strongly anti-India, along with al-Qaeda. For example, it carried out a recent attack on a gurdwara in Kabul.

Difficulties in the implementation of Indian projects are more likely to arise from intra-Afghan tensions rather than any hostility to India.

What should be done?

India should encourage Afghan cement plants and related industries, and ensure optimal use of coal, which is now being exported to Pakistan at cheap prices.

Furthermore, India has around 400 projects in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Thus, India can ask for the protection from Taliban for them.

It is also important to remember that the Taliban have never actively been anti-India.

Source: The post is based on an article “The Indian challenge in Afghanistan” published in the “The Hindu” on 30^th June 2022.