Understanding India’s Relation with Afghanistan from the period of 2001 to 2022

Abstract

In order to counterbalance Pakistan and China, as well as to reach out to the Central Asian Republics (CARs) and West Asian nations like Iran, India places a great deal of importance on Afghanistan. Afghanistan is significant from India’s point of view in terms of security, trade, establishing regional and international footholds, and its energy aspirations. However, security has evolved into the main factor influencing Afghanistan’s relevance to India as Afghanistan has been a critical factor for both internal and regional stability. Till the Taliban re-gaining its position as the de-facto ruler of Afghanistan in 2021, India has invested and aided Afghanistan over $3 billion US dollars. In terms of infrastructural development assistance in Afghanistan, India have built over 400 projects that includes a dam, a paediatric hospital, a highway, and its parliament building which has gained India an overwhelming goodwill from Afghan citizens. This study gives an overall analysis of India’s relation with Afghanistan after the fall of Taliban regime in 2001 to Taliban regaining to its prior position in 2021 along with a historical perspective on the relation, both countries observed. The study also provides an analysis of India-Afghan relations after the Taliban take over in 2021.