Why in News ?

Signalling a carefully calibrated shift in its position on engaging with the Taliban, India participated in the commencement ceremony of intra-Afghan talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban in Qatar’s capital Doha.

Recent US Shift

• agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban on February 29, 2020, marks a milestone in America’s longest ever war.
• Accordingly, the majority of U.S. troops are expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2021.
• How it Impact ?
  • Sections of the Taliban could be expected to play a larger role in Afghan politics.

India’s Stand On Taliban

• India has nuanced its position given the ground reality in Afghanistan and the changing power structure in Kabul.
• A definite step-up in its engagement with the Taliban which is negotiating a new power-sharing arrangement in Afghanistan.
• India reiterate three major facts
  • Be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled
  • Respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan
  • Promote human rights and democracy
• Any peace process must be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled
• Concerns Raised
  • The interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society must be preserved.
    • Attacks on the Sikh minorities there must be stopped.
  • Issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.
    • Indian interest include the Indian Embassy and Indian companies and workers in Afghanistan, should also be protected.

India and Afghan Relation

• Afghan-Pak difference in the issue of Durand line and arising from Pak’s desire to dominate Afghanistan make it a natural Ally of India.
• Growing tension between India and China, India cannot afford a mistake of giving a wrong signal to Afghanistan. 
• Indian Assistance to Afghanistan
  • India’s role as a major development partner of Afghanistan with over 400 projects completed in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan
  • Undertaking projects worth over $3 billion including Afghanistan’s parliament.
  • Reconstruction of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul.
  • Zaranj to Delarm highway to facilitate movement of goods and services from Afghanistan to Iranian border and onward to the Chahbhahar Port. Transmission line from Pul-e-Khurmi to Kabul.
  • Salma Dam Power Project
  • Restoration of telecommunication infrastructure in 11 provinces
  • Support in Expansion of national TV networks.
  • India Afghan Vocation training centre for training Afghan Youth and Women. 

Source : Indian Express

Topic

GS II : India and its neighbourhood- relations

Current Affairs Compilation : 14 September 2020