{"id":347843,"date":"2025-10-11T07:10:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T01:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=347843"},"modified":"2025-10-12T10:38:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T05:08:39","slug":"relooking-at-kabul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/relooking-at-kabul\/","title":{"rendered":"Relooking at Kabul"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Afghanistan links South and Central Asia and often draws great-power rivalry. In 2021, the Taliban took power after a change of government. India then reset its approach: humanitarian aid first, a small technical team in Kabul, and no formal recognition\u2014aimed at protecting interests and historical ties without overreach. After Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi\u2019s visit on <strong>10 October 2025<\/strong>, India seeks forward engagement that is people-centric and interest-driven: practical cooperation, a restored diplomatic presence via a charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires, expanded trade through the air-freight corridor, and quiet, issue-based security coordination\u2014while avoiding premature recognition and navigating shifting regional pressures. <strong>Relooking at Kabul.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-347882\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Relooking-at-Kabul.png?resize=541%2C359&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Relooking at Kabul\" width=\"541\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Relooking-at-Kabul.png?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Relooking-at-Kabul.png?resize=1024%2C680&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Relooking-at-Kabul.png?resize=768%2C510&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Relooking-at-Kabul.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 541px) 100vw, 541px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>India\u2019s Diplomatic Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Embassy status (Kabul): <\/strong>India is preparing to reopen its embassy in Kabul, beginning with a charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires rather than a full ambassador.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recognition signal: <\/strong>This step indicates engagement without formal recognition. In New Delhi, the Afghan mission will likely be run by Taliban-appointed staff and fly the Emirate flag, reflecting de facto dealings and not de jure recognition.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy principles: <\/strong>India is underscoring that Afghans should decide their own security and foreign policy. It is also aligning with the position that Afghanistan should host no foreign military structures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Public messaging: <\/strong>In current remarks, India has not foregrounded human-rights conditionality. The emphasis is on practical channels, steady contact, and continuity of essential cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>Regional Geopolitics &amp; Security Calculus<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Great-power setting:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>The regional landscape is shifting, as the United States <strong>encourages<\/strong> a larger Pakistani role across India\u2019s immediate and extended western neighbourhood..<\/li>\n<li>China is widening its reach through its Pakistan axis and expanding stakes in Iran and the Gulf.<\/li>\n<li>Russia has recognised the Taliban and is tightening coordination with Tehran. India must read its west through these intersecting pressures..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong>India\u2013 Afghans security overlap:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>India and the Afghans now describe cross-border terrorism as a shared threat.<\/li>\n<li>This creates room for discreet, issue-based coordination on threat assessment and deconfliction, without any formal alliance or recognition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Pakistan factor<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Afghans are asserting autonomy on India policy and has also refused to hand over leaders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to Pakistan.<\/li>\n<li>These actions show that Pakistan\u2019s leverage over the Taliban is limited, despite its past support and sanctuary..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>Coordination platforms: <\/strong>India participates in the Moscow-led Afghanistan consultations to exchange assessments and shape regional consensus\u2014most notably the line that <strong>no foreign military bases or structures<\/strong> should be present in Afghanistan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>What are the areas of engagement between India- Afghanistan?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Developmental Assistance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Infrastructure Projects<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Zaranj-Delaram Highway<\/strong>: Connects Afghanistan to the Iranian border.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Salma Dam<\/strong>: Provides irrigation and electricity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Afghan Parliament Building<\/strong>: A symbol of bilateral cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Healthcare:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>India is setting up a <strong>Thalassemia Centre<\/strong> and a Modern Diagnostic Centre in Kabul.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>30-bed hospital in Bagrami, an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre <\/strong>(both in Kabul), and five Maternity Clinics are planned. India gifted 20 ambulances.<\/li>\n<li>About 75 prosthetic limbs have been fitted for Afghan nationals<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Education<\/strong>: India offers e-ICCR scholarships to Afghan students. More avenues for study in Indian universities are under consideration.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Trade and Economic Relations<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Air Freight Corridor<\/strong>: The India\u2013Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor has started. It will streamline connectivity and raise bilateral trade.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Chabahar Port<\/strong>: Enhances Afghanistan\u2019s connectivity to global markets.<\/p>\n<p>Mining and Investment: Afghanistan has invited Indian companies to invest in the mining sector.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> Regional Security and Counterterrorism<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Capacity Building<\/strong>: India trains Afghan security forces to counter terrorism.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Taliban Dynamics<\/strong>: India cautiously engages with the Taliban, focusing on its security concerns.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Humanitarian Assistance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Crisis Support<\/strong>: India has provided food grains and COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Community Projects<\/strong>: Over 200 programs, including schools and water supply systems, have been implemented.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Disaster Relief and Reconstruction<\/strong>: India acted as a first responder after the Nangarhar and Kunar earthquake. India is willing to help reconstruct residential buildings in affected areas.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> Sports and Culture<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Both sides will strengthen <strong>cooperation in sports<\/strong>, especially cricket.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Visa liberalisation <\/strong>: Afghanistan seeks greater visa liberalisation for students and patients. India can expand access subject to security checks. <strong>Easier mobility strengthens societal ties.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>India\u2019s Afghanistan policy must blend realism with restraint. Engage the de facto authority to protect core interests, but avoid premature recognition. Prioritise people-centric cooperation\u2014food, health, education, visas\u2014and complete stalled projects that deliver quick benefits. Build quiet security coordination against cross-border threats, while signalling support for Afghan sovereignty and \u201cno foreign bases.\u201d A calibrated, sustained presence in Kabul will help India manage great-power competition, balance Pakistan-linked risks, and create stable avenues for long-term partnership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Afghanistan links South and Central Asia and often draws great-power rivalry. In 2021, the Taliban took power after a change of government. India then reset its approach: humanitarian aid first, a small technical team in Kabul, and no formal recognition\u2014aimed at protecting interests and historical ties without overreach. After Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi\u2019s&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/relooking-at-kabul\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Relooking at Kabul<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":347882,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230],"tags":[212,239],"class_list":["post-347843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","tag-gs-paper-2","tag-international-relations","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Relooking-at-Kabul.png?fit=1280%2C850&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=347843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/347882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=347843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=347843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=347843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}