Introduction
Afghanistan, a landlocked nation at the heart of Asia, has long been a focal point of geopolitical intrigue. With the Taliban's return to power in August 2021 following the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces, the country has re-entered a phase of uncertainty marked by humanitarian crises, economic collapse, and regional insecurity.
India, as a key regional power and Afghanistan’s long-time development partner, faces a complex challenge. Having refused to formally recognize the Taliban regime but continued its humanitarian support, India's Afghanistan policy today is defined by pragmatism, people-centric diplomacy, and strategic calculation.
India’s Historical Engagement with Afghanistan
India and Afghanistan share deep civilizational, cultural, and historical bonds. Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, India has been among the largest regional contributors to Afghan reconstruction, committing over $3 billion in developmental aid.
Key areas of engagement have included:
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Infrastructure: Construction of roads (like the Zaranj–Delaram highway), power grids, and dams (notably the Salma Dam)
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Education & Health: Scholarships for Afghan students, hospitals, and clinics across provinces
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Democracy Promotion: Support for elections, parliament building, and civil institutions
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Strategic Interests: Training Afghan police and military personnel, regional connectivity projects
This comprehensive engagement reflected India's vision of Afghanistan as a sovereign, democratic, and peaceful nation.
The Taliban’s Return and India’s Dilemma
The return of the Taliban in 2021 presented India with a sharp diplomatic puzzle. On one hand, the new regime lacked international legitimacy, included elements hostile to India (e.g., Haqqani Network), and reversed many gains made by the earlier democratic government. On the other hand, India had strategic and humanitarian stakes in Afghanistan’s future.
India’s initial response was cautious:
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Evacuated Indian staff from its embassy in Kabul
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Suspended formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban
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Monitored regional security threats, including terror groups operating from Afghan soil
Yet, India did not cut ties entirely. Instead, it shifted to a non-recognition engagement model—interacting with the Taliban on a case-by-case, issue-specific basis.
India’s Humanitarian Outreach: A People-First Approach
While avoiding formal recognition of the Taliban, India has prioritized humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people:
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Sent over 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through land routes
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Supplied medicines, vaccines, and winter clothing
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Reopened its Technical Office in Kabul in mid-2022 to oversee aid distribution
India has reiterated its commitment to the Afghan people, separating political engagement from humanitarian responsibilities. This approach has helped India maintain moral credibility while safeguarding its long-term interests.
Security Concerns: Terrorism and Regional Spillover
India’s biggest concern remains terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. The presence and resurgence of groups like:
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Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
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Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
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Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP)
…pose direct threats to Indian assets and civilians, especially in Kashmir and Central Asia. The Taliban’s alleged ties with the Haqqani Network, responsible for past attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul, only heighten these fears.
India’s security calculus also includes:
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Monitoring cross-border infiltration and radicalization
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Increasing intelligence cooperation with Iran, Russia, and Central Asian republics
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Fortifying diplomatic assets and evacuation capabilities in volatile zones
Strategic Engagement: Realism over Idealism
India has made limited, indirect contact with the Taliban through:
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Meetings in Doha between Indian diplomats and Taliban representatives
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Participation in regional formats like the Moscow Format and Heart of Asia dialogue
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Intelligence sharing and back-channel diplomacy
The aim is not recognition but strategic engagement to ensure:
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Afghan territory is not used against India
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Development projects and assets are protected
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India retains influence in shaping Afghanistan’s regional future
This realpolitik is in line with India’s multi-vector foreign policy—engage where necessary, uphold core interests, and lead through developmental diplomacy.
Connectivity & Economic Interests
Afghanistan plays a key role in India’s broader Central Asia connectivity goals. Projects like:
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The Chabahar Port in Iran
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The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
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Proposed India-Central Asia air corridors
…depend heavily on stability in Afghanistan.
With Pakistan blocking overland access, India's connectivity to Central Asia is severely restricted. A stable, cooperative Afghanistan is essential to bypass geopolitical roadblocks and enable trade, energy pipelines, and people-to-people ties.
The Role of Regional Powers: A Crowded Neighborhood
India’s Afghanistan policy unfolds against a backdrop of increased activity by other powers:
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China: Keen on mining Afghan resources and integrating Kabul into the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)
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Pakistan: Long-time Taliban patron, but now grappling with border insecurity and refugee influx
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Russia & Iran: Advocating regional frameworks to stabilize the Taliban regime without Western dependence
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The West: Focused on human rights, women's rights, and counterterrorism
India must navigate these overlapping agendas while preserving its own voice and sovereign interest, without being drawn into ideological camps.
India’s Diplomatic Tightrope: Non-Recognition with Engagement
India’s current model is one of “strategic ambiguity”:
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No formal recognition of Taliban
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Active humanitarian aid
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Selective dialogue
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Regional cooperation on counterterrorism
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Moral support for rights of Afghan women, minorities, and education
This nuanced approach keeps India relevant without compromising on democratic values or security concerns.
Conclusion
India’s engagement with Afghanistan post-2021 is a textbook case of calibrated diplomacy. From being one of the largest contributors to Afghan development to now engaging a regime with little global legitimacy, India has managed to pivot its policy without abandoning its principles.
The stakes are high—security, strategic access, humanitarian responsibility, and regional influence. By maintaining issue-based engagement, advocating for inclusive governance, and continuing aid without legitimizing extremism, India sets an example of pragmatic, compassionate, and independent foreign policy.
Going forward, India must:
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Expand educational and medical outreach through NGOs and multilateral agencies
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Support regional security cooperation to prevent terror spillovers
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Advocate for the rights of Afghan women, children, and minorities
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Use multilateral platforms like SCO, BRICS, and UN to push for a peaceful, stable Afghanistan
In a region marked by historical distrust and power rivalries, India’s best asset remains its soft power, neutrality, and long-term vision. Afghanistan may be a land of uncertainty today, but India’s engagement rooted in people, principles, and pragmatism may yet sow seeds for a better tomorrow.