Round The World
New Delhi, 25 June
2021
Afghan Crisis
INDIA
WATCH OUT!
By Dr.
D.K. Giri
(Prof.
International Relations, JIMMC)
The battle between
Taliban and Afghan government has intensified since 1 of May as United States
NATO troops begin to withdraw. According to the United Nation’s Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), there has been sudden increase in violence despite
talks and an agreement last year between US and Taliban. The Indian Foreign
Minister S. Jaishankar speaking in a special meeting of United Nation’s
Security Council on Tuesday, 22nd June has called for a permanent
and comprehensive ceasefire.
As per the report
presented by UNAMA, the civilian casualties have increased in the first quarter
of 2021 by 29 per cent, of women by 37 per cent, and of children by 23 per
cent. In the recent attacks, the targets have been civilians, women, children,
armed forces and government officials. Taliban is fast gaining control of the
Afghan territory and so far has captured 19 districts out of 42. The recent catch
in Taliban bag is the control of Kunduz province on Monday, the 21 June. This
province holds the border crossing to Tajikistan which is crucial for trade with
Central Asia.
Atthe UNSC,Jaishankar
asked for an end to ‘terrorists’ safe havens’ and ‘terrorist supply chains’. He
did not mention Pakistan although the reference was obvious. At the same
time, Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif
Atmar was more forthright in naming Pakistan Al-Qaeda and other Pak-based
terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani accompanied by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of High Council for
National Reconciliation was scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden at the
White House on Friday, the 25 June. According to White House spokesperson, the
US is determined to continue to extend diplomatic, humanitarian and economic
assistance for restoration of war-torn Afghanistan.
Ghani, however, has
expressed his dismay at the outcome of US military mission in Afghanistan.They
had come to curb violence in the country, but when they leave after two decades,
the violence has spiked. At the same time, Ghani castigates the Taliban for
putting their relationship with networks and sponsors ahead of the interest of
the country. He urges them to make a choice between LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al-Qaida
and other such groups, and the patriotic forces of Afghanistan.
The US Ambassador to
United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UNSC that US will not accept a
military solution in Afghanistan, a government by force, and restoration of
Islamic Emirate. This would have no legitimacy. The US is committed to
supporting an Afghan people-driven andpeople-owned peace process. While the
NATO is committed to training the Afghanistan security forces, the world likes
to see a stable and peaceful Afghanistan which would link the economies of
South-Central Asia.
Let us note that
India is strongly supportive, like the US and other democracies, of the peace
process in Afghanistan. But what does it tangibly mean? Where do the Taliban
get the support from to simply overpower the government as soon as the USA and
NATO troops decide to drawdown? Is it not Pakistan and its mentors? Should
Government of India not be wary of Afghan territory being used for cross-border
terrorism in the region?
To answer the above
questions, it will be in order that we critically look at India’s Afghan
policy. Initially, India has a developmental role in rebuilding Afghanistan
since the violence started with Soviet occupation of the country way back in
1979. The trail of violence could be traced to the fateful month of December
1979. India extended aid of over $2 billion to Afghanistan and made massive
developmental efforts in terms of various projects. It constructed the new
Parliament building at a cost of about $90 million as a friendship gesture. The
Afghan Parliament and the Salma dam are two flagship projects in Afghanistan.
In recent years, the
pace of India-Afghan bilateral collaboration has accelerated in the framework
of Afghanistan-India strategic partnership agreement (SPA) in the political,
security, development and cultural sectors. It was perhaps perceived by the
South Block that India’s ability to mentor a nascent democracy will demonstrate
to the world of India’s growth as a big and a responsible power.
Was it enough, or
indeed an appropriate strategy to deal with the Afghan question? Donald Trump
in his inimitable and cavalier way downplayed the Indian developmental
approach. He, in fact, mocked the construction of library building saying how
many people made use of the facility. These snide remarks aside, India’s
contribution earned the goodwill of Afghan people but did little to stop the
violence and rivalry. The call of time is to tame the Taliban and get them to
follow the democratic peace process.
At several points in
time we have argued that, if necessary, India could have been militarily
involved to contribute to disarm the violence-mongers and force them to come to
peace negotiations. Short of that, New Delhi needed to make contact with
Taliban, who are a formidable party, albeit backed by Pakistan and its
partners-in-crime. Thankfully, there has been a big shift in India’s approach
as it opened channels with Afghan Taliban factions and leaders. The Indian
security officials made contact with faction leaders who were seen to be
nationalists or not under the influence of Pakistan or Iran.
On June 9 and June
15, Jaishankar had two stopovers at Doha to meet the Qatari Foreign Minister
and National Security Advisor, and the US Special Representative on Afghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad who happened to be there at the time. Qatar government has
been hosting the Taliban’s main office in Doha since 2013, has been involved in
Afghan peace process as the main organiser of Intra-Afghan dialogue
(Afghan-Taliban Talks) which were inaugurated in September 2020. Jaishankar was
a part of the inauguration. However, India’s contacts with Taliban have been exploratory,
not decisive in any way.
It requires no
imagination to establish that India has huge stakes in Afghanistan’s peace,
stability and security. But New Delhi has been a peripheral player in the peace
negotiations although it has bilaterally engaged incurring considerable
goodwill among the people. In the latest conclave of the countries organised by
Russia, India was kept out. With growing proximity between Moscow and Beijing,
the former suggested that only five countries – Russia, China, US, Pakistan and
Iran should be at the table. It is US that made India finally sit at the table
with five other countries to decide the road map for peace in Afghanistan. New
Delhi perhaps realises now that “our interests need to be safeguarded”.
By being a part of
the team, New Delhi hoped to have a role in fixing the terms for negotiation –
especially on terrorism, violence, women’s rights and democratic values. India
could play that role with support of USas other countries in the pack, Russia,
China, Iran and Pakistan are of a similar hue. It is a correct approach for New
Delhi to talk to all players in Afghan imbroglio, but it is important not to be
kept out. New Delhi should persuade US to give it a hand in steadying the
fragile restoration of Afghanistan. In the past, New Delhi has left the onus to
US;whereas it should have been more involved. As the saying goes, “everything
may be lost, but future remains”. New Delhi should prepare for that future in
Afghanistan to make itself secure from its toxic spill over. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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