India's Strategic Relations with Afghanistan

India's relationship with Afghanistan maintains a strategic character, marked by recent high-level engagements such as the meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai. Despite the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, which was initially seen as a setback for India, the ties have been strengthening.

India's Engagement with the Taliban

• The Taliban's return was viewed as a gain for Pakistan, yet the group has shown eagerness to improve relations with India.
• India has cautiously elevated its interactions with the Taliban, now extending to the level of foreign secretary.
• India is responding to Kabul's requests for humanitarian assistance and developmental cooperation, highlighting an enduring geopolitical reality.

Historical and Geopolitical Context

• There is a historical warmth between India and Afghanistan, unaffected by changes in the regime.
• Factors contributing to this warmth include the absence of bilateral disputes and shared cross-border issues with Pakistan.
• Afghanistan has often looked to India to counterbalance pressures from Pakistan, given the latter's interference in Afghan affairs.

Challenges for India

• Domestic Orientation of the Taliban:
  • The regime's repression and denial of basic rights to women are significant concerns for India.
  • While India lacks the power to change Afghanistan’s internal politics, it aims to encourage political and social moderation.
• Abandonment of Previous Allies:
  • India's refusal to grant visas to Afghans who supported it over decades marks a problematic shift.
  • While forming new alliances in Kabul is strategic, neglecting long-term partners is unwise.

Strategic Partnerships

The location of the meeting, Dubai, signifies India's potential cooperation with the UAE and other moderate Arab states to foster positive changes in Afghanistan.