The Three Countries would be play crucial role in stability of Asia.
India’s Failed Foreign Policy (Part-1)
Americans never understood Afghanistan like the Taliban did · Shadi Hamid
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently commented “Future Of Afghanistan cannot be its past.” Pakistan to which the Taliban is tied with an Umbilical cord will make New Delhi tedious. Trump’s America which have had decided to call the troops from Afghanistan- Biden following the same strategy is worrisome. ‘Failed States’ by Noam Chomsky states how the US abruptly uses its powers. The US calling off the troops from Afghanistan states America’s worries and how the rise of China is a matter of concern for America. This amount to the defeat of America in Central Asia.
The main disadvantage India suffers is- no physical access to Afghanistan. The country being landlocked, India also doesn’t have any maritime route to Afghanistan. The way to reach the country is through ‘US sanctioned Iran’. With the delay over India’s plans to build a railway line connecting Chabbhar port to the Afghan border at Zahedan, the Iranian government had decided to complete the railroad through its resources by 2021. Tehran’s decision to develop Farzad B gas field domestically- cutting off- India’s Oil and Gas Corporation Videsh is another matter of concern and at the same time Beijing’s investment in Iran and ongoing discussion of LNG pipeline to china along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as India is not expected to return its prior interest in LNG imports from Iran. It seems the future of Afghanistan is through the Taliban, the future of Afghanistan lies in the hand of the Taliban. India’s policy in Afghanistan had been Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, has to respect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. But the recent changes In geopolitics doesn’t permit to have the same policy. Russian deputy envoy to Delhi has been quoted as saying the Taliban are the current reality of Afghanistan, and it is for India to decide what role it wants to play, should have raised Delhi’s concern. The solution is to invest in Iran’s economy by developing a comprehensive energy policy with Tehran. $85 million of capital investment is a welcome move, India is also committed to providing a line of credit of $150 million for port container tracks. Phase I was declared operational in 2018 and India’s wheat shipments to Afghanistan have been using this route. Special Economic Zone at Chabbhar was planned but re-imposition of U.S. sanction was slowed in investment into the SEZ’s. India should rapidly start working on its commitment regardless of US sanctions. The long term solution is to revive the SAARC via start talks with Pakistan. Regional grouping’s like SAARC and BIMSTEC will play a crucial role in Central Asia.
Iran and India also share an antipathy to a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. This is why Iran would like to keep the door open. Nevertheless, India needs to work on its commitment. During World War II when the Nazis took France, it was Winston Churchill comment ‘France must be saved from Nazi’ similarly ‘Afghanistan need to be saved from Taliban’ for the peaceful Asian region.
