Relevance : GS Paper II ( International Relations)
[800 words summarized to 200]
Present situation in Afghanistan
- Taliban now controls about one-third of the country.
- The Taliban continues to haunt government forces.
- Sporadic strikes by ISIS continue unabated.
- Crime is rampant and corruption and tax evasion are widespread.
- The presidential election has been postponed to July 2019.
- The withdrawal of troops ordered further emboldened the Taliban and weakened the Afghan government.
The Moscow format
A Russian initiative, called the Moscow format, succeeded in bringing together the Taliban and Afghan representatives.
Afghanistan and India
- A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a vital national interest for India.
- India has no plans for military intervention in Afghanistan.
- India has invested in reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.
- India has provided aid such as helicopters, training to Afghan military personnel, humanitarian aid, etc.
- The Indian embassy Indian projects have been attacked by the Taliban.
- India sent observers to the Moscow conference with the Taliban.
- India has now accepted that conflict resolution cannot take place without talking to the Taliban.
- If Taliban returns to power in Kabul, Pakistan’s ISI would be sure to divert Taliban fighters to Kashmir.
Conclusion
India’s interest lies in formulating a comprehensive strategy, jointly with the Afghan government, that ensures that a Taliban takeover can be prevented.
