The Changing Contours of Afghan-Indian Relations

The article analyzes the reasons for India's cautious behavior in developing contacts with the Taliban regime. The author points out the importance for New Delhi of Afghanistan as a transportation corridor to Central Asia, as well as a region rich in natural resources. India's interest in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan, from whose territory terrorist threats emanate, is emphasized. The development of Afghan-Indian relations was constantly hindered by the rivalry between New Delhi and Islamabad for influence on Kabul. Despite the controversial policy of President Ashraf Ghani towards New Delhi, India's assistance to the economic development of Afghanistan and its non-participation in the Afghan armed conflict were the reasons for the positive attitude of Afghan society towards India. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021 was met with wariness in New Delhi and led to the closure of the embassy. The Taliban's desire to benefit from Indian assistance in the face of Afghanistan's dire socio-economic situation is emphasized. Kabul is counting on increased food supplies, as well as on India's implementation of unfinished development projects. India does not recognize the Taliban regime because of the harsh domestic policy of the local authorities and does not fully understand the extent to which the Taliban's relations with Pakistan have cooled, but it cannot ignore the geopolitical importance of Afghanistan. New Delhi is therefore concentrating its efforts on providing primarily humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Such an approach is seen as a carefully considered strategy to utilize its “soft power” in an unstable country.