NEW DELHI: The rapid forward movement in bilateral ties between India and Afghanistan is likely to lead to a mutually beneficial scenario, including in the field of strategic cooperation between the two countries, something that was deemed as impossible when the Taliban came to power in August 2021.
In an indication of how Delhi and Kabul are now moving forward, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has recommended a set of names for its diplomatic offices in Delhi. The names also include, as per Kabul-based media, that of Najib Shaheen, who is the son of Muhammad Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban member who is currently the head of the Political Office in Doha and Kabul’s permanent representative designate to the United Nations and someone who was a crucial member of the Doha-based negotiation team. The possible posting of Najib to Delhi shows how important the Afghanistan government sees Delhi as.
Senior government sources based in Kabul, including those who also handle the media, told The Sunday Guardian that the Indian government should move strongly and swiftly to strengthen diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. “This is an ideal time to formalize such relations, as fostering good ties with Afghanistan will allow India to contribute to infrastructure development there and secure Afghanistan’s support in international politics. This strategy would be beneficial for India in the region, as it could weaken Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan. If India approaches this matter seriously, it could even eliminate Pakistan’s role in the region. India should also assist Afghanistan in reducing its reliance on Pakistan for trade and other essential sectors,” a senior source aware of the thinking in Kabul offices said. Pakistan’s deep state, for long, has been known for using its geographical location and relatively stronger military and their assets as a tool to direct how Kabul conducts its diplomatic relations.
According to him, Kabul was hopeful of India investing in improving Afghanistan’s healthcare sector to reduce the reliance of Afghans on neighbouring countries. Delhi’s focus on developing healthcare assets in Afghanistan, he said, will go a long way in generating goodwill among the people and the officials, which will last for decades.
Afghanistan has approximately 0.33 doctors per 1,000 people. This figure is significantly lower than the World Health Organization’s recommended rate of at least 2.5 doctors per 1,000 people for adequate healthcare coverage. As per the World Health Organization, there are 134 hospitals in Afghanistan, 26 of which are located in Kabul, among which 18 are mostly referral hospitals.
International agencies, including Indian health providers, have stayed away from Afghanistan due to the security situation, something which the official said was not a problem anymore, given the Kabul government’s focus on improving the overall security in the country by taking strict actions against armed groups and not allowing them to operate inside the country.
Afghanistan, sources said, was expecting support from India with regards to food, medicine, and education, which will, apart from cultivating a favourable image of India among the Afghan people, enhance its influence in the region. India, since the Taliban has taken over, has sent more than 60,000 metric tonnes of wheat and grains to the country. These small steps, sources said, have made a positive impact on the people.
Kabul was also looking towards India in the field of offering more scholarships to Afghan students and educational exchanges, which they say would further enhance India’s soft power in Afghanistan.
The official said that India has historically played a significant role in rebuilding Afghanistan, something which the Taliban respects and was expecting that India would gradually continue its economic aid and infrastructure projects and demonstrate India’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan’s development.
One of the main concerns among the naysayers and the critics of the Taliban in New Delhi after the US forces withdrew from the country was that Kabul would become increasingly anti-India and turn into a haven for Pakistan’s deep state and the armed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. However, three years down the line, these assumptions have failed to fructify.
Afghanistan sources said that with Kabul looking to enhance its security cooperation with Delhi, India should also reciprocate to discuss security concerns and regional stability, which will provide India with an opportunity to safeguard its interests in Afghanistan.
The sources stated that Kabul was looking to collaborate with the Taliban on counter-terrorism efforts, particularly targeting groups that pose a threat to India’s security. This collaboration, he said, should include intelligence sharing, as this would be beneficial in addressing the security concerns of both countries and stabilize the region.
One of the thought processes in Kabul is that India, given its long ties with the country, should coordinate with countries like Iran, Russia, and Central Asian nations to create a unified strategy for Afghanistan, as this would not only benefit Afghanistan but enhance India’s political leverage. With regards to Pakistan, the sources said that by engaging directly and more frequently with Afghanistan, India could diminish Pakistan’s role and influence in Afghan affairs, which would also align with India’s broader regional goals, particularly in countering Pakistan’s strategic positioning in Afghanistan.