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.
- The interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society must be preserved.
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