News Highlights
India took its first step to engage the Taliban through India – Afghan Talks since August 2021.
Focus Areas of Talks
- The India – Afghan talks were carried out between the Taliban’s Foreign Minister and India’s Joint Secretary for Pakistan , Iran and Afghanistan.
- The talks focused on issues like diplomatic relations , bilateral trade and humanitarian assistance and the Afghan regime also urged India to restart development projects.
- Indian representatives also visited the beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance.
- The projects which subjects to visit are Indira Gandhi Child Hospital and Habibia High School which is renovated by India.
Why Afghanistan Significant for India?
- Security of India
- For India’s regional and domestic security and stability, a secure Afghanistan is essential.
- If Afghanistan reverts to being a hotbed of extreme bloodshed, this will have ramifications for India and chance of drug cartels.
- Gateway to Central Asia
- Afghanistan has long been seen as India’s entry point to Central Asia. It denotes a continental reach.
- For example, India’s cooperation with Iran to create Chabahar port is primarily motivated by connectivity with Afghanistan and then Central Asia. Similarly, the Delaram-Zaranj highway is a vital route for connecting Indian and Afghan economies.
- Increasing the region’s foothold
- In order to improve its position in the area, India needs to increase strategic relations with Afghanistan.
- India’s relations with Iran, for example, are currently driven by oil. Diversifying India’s interactions would boost the country’s ties with Iran and other nations.
- Energy
- Pipelines from Iran and Central Asia would be critical in meeting the country’s energy needs and sustaining its economic growth.
- Afghanistan is an important part of India’s TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline.
- The construction of this pipeline, as well as the future supply of gas, would be hampered by an unstable Afghanistan.
- Boost for Trade
- In terms of trade, Afghanistan may assist India in earning foreign exchange by assisting India in exporting its products to Europe.
- New Delhi will be connected to Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Europe by a railway line that runs from Chabahar to Zahedan in Afghanistan.
- Check on Other Powers
- China – To check the China’s presence through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) India should maintain presence in the region
- Pakistan – To counter Pakistan extremist group India should ensure counter measures in the region.
About Afghanistan
- Afghanistan, landlocked multiethnic country located in the heart of south-central Asia.
- Capital: Kabul
- Bounded by:
- East and South: Pakistan
- West : Iran
- North: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
- North east: short border with Xinjiang, China
Pic Courtesy : Hindustan Times
Content Source : New Indian Express