India’s Foreign Secretary Meets Afghan FM in Dubai
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai to discuss several issues, including trade and cricket. This unexpected engagement underscores India’s strategic foresight and pragmatic approach in dealing with complex geopolitical realities.
India’s Constructive Role in Afghanistan
India has historically contributed to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development through various large-scale and high-impact community projects. These include building hospitals, schools, dams, connectivity projects, and power stations across all 34 provinces. Even after the Taliban’s takeover, New Delhi continued its humanitarian efforts, supplying covid vaccines, medical supplies, and food aid.
Continued Humanitarian Assistance
Despite initial challenges, India has provided significant aid, including 47,500 million tonnes of wheat and 500,000 covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan. The Union budget for 2023-24 includes a separate budgetary allocation of Rs 200 crore ($24.3 million) for Afghanistan, supporting the Afghanistan national cricket team and continuing various developmental projects.
India’s Engagement with the Taliban
India’s engagement with the Taliban predates the recent formal meeting in Doha between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. Following the Taliban takeover, New Delhi maintained a calibrated approach, keeping communication channels open while providing humanitarian assistance.
The Regional Security Context
Peace and stability in Afghanistan are crucial for India’s security interests. China’s growing influence in Afghanistan has motivated New Delhi to limit and balance China’s presence in the region. Additionally, deteriorating ties between Kabul and Islamabad have created an opportunity for India to increase its engagement with the Taliban regime.
The Evolving Nature of the Taliban
The Taliban 2.0 has shown a more pragmatic approach, distinct from its earlier ideological stance. This shift has encouraged New Delhi to formalize its engagement, recognizing the mutual benefits of collaboration in fostering stability and development in Afghanistan.
The Global Geopolitical Context
As the world prepares for Donald Trump to assume office, the global geopolitical scene is shifting towards transactional and pragmatic diplomacy. This environment has provided India with the flexibility to deepen its engagement with the Taliban government in Afghanistan without the burden of value-laden expectations.
Conclusion
The Narendra Modi government’s engagement with the Taliban regime demonstrates a pragmatic approach to India’s foreign policy. This strategy aims to maintain peace and stability in Afghanistan, strengthen regional cooperation, and protect India’s security and economic interests in the face of shifting geopolitical realities.