India’s traditional friendship and understanding with Afghanistan derailed decades ago when Taliban was created in 1994 and two years later took power in Kabul in 1996 but ousted in post-9/11 by the American and Western forces in course of the war against the terror. Contrary to India, Pakistan remained on good terms with Taliban from the beginning and both worked in Afghanistan and outside it against the Indian influence and interests and this is why India had viewed Taliban with suspicions, a power who plays in Pakistan’s hands and hence not suitable for afghan interests. On the other side, over the years Taliban became a potent force in the country and came back from 2003 onwards as an insurgent group ready to fight against both-American and Western powers’ army and forces of the Afghanistan government. After some years of fighting in the year 2007-2008 the idea of talking with Taliban was explored in London and it was formalized in 2010 but failed to see the light od the day. Similarly, Americans tried to talk with Afghan Taliban directly in 2012-2013, but it was not liked by the then President Hamid Karzai. Earlier in 1990s Taliban also wanted to talk with India but later denied the offer because of its deep connections with Pakistan and it would bestow political legitimacy to a movement that ran counter to India’s interest and agreed to negotiate peace with other concerned forces in Afghanistan. Now, in past some years, the situation has been totally changed and all stakeholders including United States, Afghanistan government and other negotiators as well have accepted the fact that no peace negotiation in Afghan is possible without the active support and participation of the Taliban and most of them want to talk with Taliban alone to take the credit in bulk. At the juncture, involvement of US, China and Russia, the opposite force in themselves, have made the whole matter not only complicated but political too and pushed the process toward uncertainty.
Peace and development in Afghanistan
As always, and particularly in the case of present Afghanistan there can not be sustainable peace without sustainable development as the country has been for more than four decades facing foreign interventions and the resulting conflicts among intra-Afghan powers backed by the super/big powers of the time in which its neighbour has also played a role in both ways, mostly working with anti- government forces. The development works in Afghanistan remained all along the years and decades following the Soviet intervention in December 1979 till date the last agenda of the government as it was busy in making peace a reality in the larger interest society of Afghanistan. Except some years of Taliban’s regime India has always been helping Afghanistan from the days of President Najibullah, but started large scale construction works which include-rebuilding of air links, power plants, and investing in health and education, training of afghan civil servants, diplomats and police. In the context, the road construction and other works done by the Indian Army’s Border Roads Organisation in remote Afghan provinces deserve special mention because it would help minimize Afghan’s economic dependency on Pakistan. Apart from signing the three Memorandum of Understandings for strengthening cooperation in the fields of rural development, education and standardization, both countries signed several agreements to complete the schemes and projects initiated by India. Even the present government of India headed by Narendra Modi is also taking equal interest in development of Afghanistan and establishing a durable peace in the country.
India and peace in Afghanistan
In comparison to other things, peace in Afghanistan is the most urgent and required necessity because two decades of continuous war have destroyed the economy, social capital, productive foundation of the society and virtually shattered the social services all over the country. As a result, it has the highest number of landmines, the largest refugee and disabled population and the highest rates of infant mortality. In case of Afghanistan all peacemaking efforts are aimed to seek a high-level political negotiation in order to craft a political settlement and end the prevailing violence for the all-round development of the country at the earliest. For India, Afghanistan is very important in terms of bilateral and regional considerations and New Delhi is always keen to know whose position is going to strong in Kabul and although, Taliban is near to Pakistan but it did not like to be projected in this way as it is not suitable for leadership who are bound to prove their independence on questions like Afghan’s boundary dispute with Pakistan. At the juncture, India should come out to find a sustainable peace in Afghanistan as there is a widespread public desire for the same and so India cannot afford to remain aloof. Earlier alike, today India is definitely concerned about the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Latest developments
In a major breakthrough on February 29, 2020, The United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, and as per terms of the agreement America agreed to an initial reduction of its armed forces from 13,000 to 8600 by July 2020, followed by full withdrawal within 14 months if the Taliban keeps its commitment. The US has also committed to close its military bases within 145 days and expressed its intent to end economic sanctions on Taliban by August 27, 2020. The deal was supported by China, Russia and Pakistan, although it did not involve the government of Afghanistan. To implement the further provisions of the agreement in which involve intra-afghan issues are to be taken up on March 10, 2020 in Oslo and now the matter is between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The deal concluded between the US and the Taliban is also viewed by nations differently. Both China and Russia are happy because it is not in their interest to have American presence in the region beyond a point. Iran and Pakistan are also happy for the reason known to all, while India is anxious about the post-withdrawal scenario of Afghanistan which will decide the future of peace and development in the country as well. In the circumstances, New Delhi too should take part in peace negotiations and shed its earlier perceptions about Taliban as now, it has become a recognised party of the peace process in Afghanistan.