Recently, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is on a Six days official visit to India. This is his first official trip since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Key Highlights of the Joint Statement

• Joint Stand Against Terrorism: India appreciated Afghanistan’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and both sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms.
  • Afghanistan assured that it will not allow its territory to be used against India, emphasizing regional peace, stability, and mutual trust.
• Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Cooperation: India expressed condolences for lives lost in the Nangarhar and Kunar earthquakes and was recognized as the first responder delivering relief materials.
  • Afghanistan appreciated India’s prompt humanitarian support and solidarity during crises.
• Healthcare and Development Projects: India will deepen engagement in healthcare, public infrastructure, and capacity-building projects, including:
  • Establishment of a Thalassemia Centre, Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacement of the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH), Kabul.
  • Construction of a 30-bed hospital, Oncology Centre, Trauma Centre, and five maternity health clinics in Paktika, Khost, and Paktia provinces.
  • India’s gift of 20 ambulances to Afghanistan and prosthetic limb fittings for 75 nationals.
• Educational and Capacity-Building Cooperation: India continues to offer e-ICCR scholarships for Afghan students and plans to expand opportunities for higher education in Indian universities.
  • It also expressed willingness to assist in reconstructing earthquake-damaged housing.
• Trade, Connectivity, and Economic Recovery: Both sides welcomed the launch of the India–Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor, designed to boost direct trade and streamline logistics.
  • Afghanistan invited Indian investment in the mining sector and appreciated India’s role in constructing and maintaining the Salma (India–Afghanistan Friendship) Dam.
  • They also agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric and water management projects to address energy and agricultural needs.
• Cultural and Sports Diplomacy: Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in sports, particularly cricket, and enhance cultural interactions to deepen people-to-people ties.

Significance of the Joint Statement

• Strategic Re-engagement: Reflects India’s pragmatic diplomacy in maintaining relations without formal recognition of the current Afghan government.
• Regional Stability: Reinforces India’s role as a stabilizing actor in South and Central Asia.
• Humanitarian Leadership: Projects India’s soft power through healthcare, education, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Economic Diplomacy: Strengthens trade, investment, and connectivity, integrating Afghanistan into regional supply chains.

About India-Afghanistan Relations

• Historical Context:
  • Ancient & Medieval Linkages: Shared Buddhist heritage through the Gandhara civilization, cultural exchanges via the Silk Route, and political interaction during the Mauryan and Kushan empires.
    • During the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods, ties deepened through migration, trade, and governance linkages.
  • Post-Independence (1947–1990s): India was among the first to recognize the Republic of Afghanistan (1947).
    • Under King Zahir Shah, India maintained cordial ties despite Afghanistan’s proximity to Pakistan.
    • During the Soviet invasion (1979), India upheld Afghan sovereignty while maintaining neutrality.
  • Post-2001 Reconstruction Era: After the Taliban’s fall, India emerged as one of Afghanistan’s largest development partners, investing over US$3 billion in infrastructure, education, health, and governance.
    • Major projects include:
      • Salma Dam (India–Afghanistan Friendship Dam)
      • Zaranj–Delaram Highway connecting Afghanistan to Iran’s Chabahar Port
      • Afghan Parliament Building as a symbol of democracy
        • Over 65,000 Afghan students have been trained in India under ICCR and ITEC programmes.
  • Post-2021 Engagement: Following the Taliban takeover (2021), India recalibrated its policy through “people-first diplomacy.”
    • Humanitarian aid has included 40,000 MT of wheat, 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and winter relief packages.
    • India reopened its technical mission in Kabul (2022) to coordinate humanitarian assistance.
• Political and Diplomatic Engagement:
  • Strategic Partnership Agreement (2011): Outlined cooperation in security, trade, development, and education.
    • Reopening of Indian Mission (2022): India re-established its presence in Kabul to coordinate humanitarian operations.
    • 2025 High-Level Meeting: The Jaishankar–Muttaqi dialogue reaffirmed mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and India’s security concerns.
    • Afghanistan’s Assurance: Kabul reiterated it would not permit anti-India activities, underscoring growing diplomatic trust.
• Economic and Trade Cooperation:
  • Bilateral Trade: Reached US$1.5 billion in 2019–20; India is Afghanistan’s largest export destination in South Asia.
  • Investment Prospects: Afghanistan has invited Indian companies to invest in mining and hydroelectric projects, including cooperation on the Salma Dam’s maintenance and water management.
• Cultural and People-to-People Linkages:
  • Civilizational Heritage: Shared traditions from Buddhism to Sufism; Gandhara art and Bamiyan Buddhas reflect Indo-Afghan cultural fusion.
  • India–Afghanistan Foundation (IAF): Established in 2007 to promote exchanges in education, arts, and science.
  • Sports Diplomacy: Afghanistan’s cricket team plays home matches in India (Lucknow, Dehradun, Noida); India aids in building sports facilities in Afghan provinces.
  • Education and Diaspora: Over 15,000 Afghan students study in India annually; around 1,700 Indian professionals work in Afghanistan’s development and health sectors.
• Multilateral and Regional Cooperation:
  • UN and SCO Platforms: India supports the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and participates in SCO and Heart of Asia dialogues to promote stability.
  • Regional Partnerships: India collaborates with Iran, Russia, and Central Asia through Chabahar Port and INSTC to enhance regional connectivity and counterterror coordination.

Importance of Afghanistan to India

• Strategic Depth:
  • Gateway to Central Asia: Afghanistan’s geography offers India access to five Central Asian republics, crucial for the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and TAPI Gas Pipeline (Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India).
  • Connectivity Example: India built the Zaranj–Delaram Highway (218 km), linking Afghanistan to Iran’s Chabahar Port, bypassing Pakistan — facilitating over 110,000 tonnes of Indian wheat and pulses deliveries to Afghanistan.
  • Energy Relevance: The TAPI pipeline aims to transport 33 bcm (billion cubic metres) of gas annually, diversifying India’s energy supply routes.
• Counterterrorism Imperative:
  • Security Relevance: Instability in Afghanistan strengthens terror networks threatening Indian security. India has faced attacks on its Embassy in Kabul (2008, 2009) and continued threats from LeT, JeM, and IS-K.
  • Collaborative Security: India engages in the Moscow Format and SCO Contact Group, stressing zero tolerance for terrorism and intelligence cooperation with Russia and Iran.
  • Example: The recent Joint Statement reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment that its soil will not be used against India — a key counterterror assurance.
• Regional Balance:
  • Countering Pakistan–China Axis: India balances Pakistan’s strategic depth policy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through Chabahar Port and developmental diplomacy.
  • Economic Leverage: India’s US$ 3 billion aid (2001–2021) remains the largest regional contribution to Afghan reconstruction.
  • Strategic Cooperation: Coordination with Iran, Russia, and Central Asia under the India–Central Asia Summit (2022) and INSTC supports India’s vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region.

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Strategic and Operational Challenges in India–Afghanistan Engagement

• Diplomatic Dilemma: India maintains functional engagement without formal recognition of the Taliban.
  • Example: The Indian Technical Mission (2022) in Kabul coordinates humanitarian aid but avoids official diplomatic endorsement — a stance of principled pragmatism.
• Transit Blockade: Pakistan’s denial of land access for India–Afghanistan trade necessitated the Air Freight Corridor (2017).
  • Strategic Limitation: Pakistan’s support to Taliban factions, especially the Haqqani Network, restricts India’s security outreach.
  • Example: Pakistan’s 2023 deportation of Afghan refugees strained its ties with the Taliban but also complicated India’s relief logistics.
• China’s Growing Presence: China’s MoUs (2023–2024) with Taliban authorities on mining and infrastructure under the BRI increase its footprint.
  • Security Implication: Beijing’s interest in Mes Aynak copper mines enhances its economic leverage and strategic influence in the region.
  • Example: The China–Afghanistan–Pakistan Trilateral Dialogue (2024) sought joint BRI projects, effectively sidelining India.
• Terrorism and Security Risks: The Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) continue to operate from Afghan soil.
  • Example: A UN report (2024) indicated over 2,000 foreign fighters in Afghanistan; India pushes for sanctions via the UN 1267 Committee.
  • Narcotics Link: Opium production rose by 30% post-2021, funding extremist networks and destabilizing regional security.
• Human Rights Issues: Taliban restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment (since 2022) conflict with India’s values-based diplomacy.
  • Example: At the UN Human Rights Council (2024), India urged for inclusive governance while maintaining aid commitments to Afghan women and children.
• Aid Coordination: Absence of a recognized government hinders direct implementation of projects.
  • Example: Delivery delays of India’s 40,000 MT wheat aid (2023) due to logistical and UN coordination issues.
  • Mitigation: India now channels assistance via UNICEF, WFP, and local NGOs to ensure transparency and delivery efficiency.

Way Forward

• Humanitarian Continuity and People-Centric Diplomacy: India must continue to provide essential humanitarian aid — food, medicines, vaccines, and disaster relief — through UN agencies and local NGOs, ensuring that support reaches Afghan citizens directly. 
  • Sustained engagement in healthcare, education, and women-centric projects will preserve India’s soft power credibility and moral leadership.
• Calibrated Diplomatic Engagement: Adopt a strategy of principled pragmatism — maintaining functional dialogue with Taliban authorities on issues of security, development, and humanitarian assistance, without formal recognition. 
  • Such calibrated engagement will help safeguard India’s investments and ensure that Afghan territory is not used for anti-India activities.
• Regional and Multilateral Coordination: Deepen coordination with Iran, Russia, and Central Asian republics through platforms like the SCO, INSTC, and India–Central Asia Dialogue to stabilize Afghanistan. 
  • Support UNAMA’s humanitarian framework and work with regional partners to prevent the country’s isolation and the rise of extremism.
    • UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) was established in 2002 by the UN Security Council (Resolution 1401) to support peace, governance, and development in Afghanistan.
    • Since 2021, UNAMA has expanded its focus on humanitarian coordination under the Taliban takeover, emphasizing neutral, impartial, and needs-based assistance.
• Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation: Strengthen intelligence sharing and monitoring mechanisms with global partners to track extremist groups like LeT, JeM, and IS-K. 
  • Advocate at the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee for designating and penalizing terror financiers. Security training and technical assistance to Afghan agencies can resume gradually under international supervision.
• Connectivity and Economic Integration: Accelerate Chabahar Port operations and link them with the INSTC to integrate Afghanistan into Eurasian trade routes. 
  • Expand the India–Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor to additional cities to counter Pakistan’s transit blockade and promote sustainable trade and job creation.
• Cultural and Educational Diplomacy: Revive ICCR scholarships, ITEC training, and student exchange programmes for Afghan youth to nurture a new generation aligned with India’s democratic and developmental values. 
  • Promote cricket diplomacy, media collaborations, and cultural exchanges under the India–Afghanistan Foundation to reinforce people-to-people trust.
• Inclusive Governance and Women’s Empowerment: Use diplomatic forums like the UNHRC and Heart of Asia Conference to advocate for inclusive governance, girls’ education, and protection of minority rights in Afghanistan. 
  • India’s assistance to women-led NGOs and education initiatives can uphold its values-based foreign policy while avoiding political confrontation.

Conclusion

India’s Afghanistan policy blends realism and responsibility, rooted in civilizational ties, humanitarian commitment, and strategic interests. Guided by principled pragmatism, India must sustain its vision of an independent, inclusive, and sovereign Afghanistan — vital for South Asia’s peace and stability. 

• As Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, “You can change geography, but not neighborhood.” India’s engagement remains a testament to this truth — a pursuit of peace and partnership in the heart of Asia.

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