India’s Failed Foreign Policy!!

Iran, Afghanistan and India

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently commented “Future Of Afghanistan cannot be its past.” Pakistan to which Taliban is tied with 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 US uses its powers in abrupt way. US calling off the troops from Afghanistan states the America worries how rise of China is concerns the America. This amount to 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’. 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 own resources by 2021. Tehran’s decision to develop Farzad B gas field domestically- cutting off- India’s Oil and Gas Cooperation Videsh is another matter of concern and at 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 Taliban, the future of Afghanistan lies in the hand of 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 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 welcome move, India also committed to provide 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. A SEZ 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 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 Nazi took France, it was Winston Churchill comment  ‘France must be saved from Nazi’ similarly ‘Afghanistan need to be saved from Taliban’ for peaceful Asian region.

Manish Narwade