India’s recent engagement with the Taliban reveals a strategic pivot following the group’s takeover of Afghanistan, highlighting India’s need to counter rival influences and maintain its historical ties amid evolving regional dynamics. Diplomatic meetings emphasize economic cooperation and trade while underscoring the risks of aligning with a historically violent regime. Experts suggest that engagement may lead to positive pressures on the Taliban regarding reforms, particularly concerning human rights.

India’s recent diplomatic engagement with the Taliban marks a significant shift in its stance toward Afghanistan’s ruling group, more than three years after the Taliban’s takeover led to a major strategic loss for New Delhi. This outreach underscores India’s adaptation to regional geopolitical dynamics that have evolved since the Afghan capital fell to the Taliban, erasing two decades of investment in democratic development and inviting increased influence from Pakistan and China over Afghanistan.

On a recent visit to Dubai, India’s ambassador Vikram Misri met with Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the highest-level interaction since Kabul’s fall. The Taliban’s intent to forge stronger political and economic ties with India suggests a newfound recognition of India’s stature as a critical regional player. Discussions surrounding expanded trade connections and the utilization of Iran’s Chabahar port to facilitate Indian access to Afghanistan’s markets underscore this diplomatic shift.

This meeting has sparked discussions among foreign policy experts, with Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Center noting that India’s outreach grants the Taliban the legitimacy it has long sought, on a pivotal scale. In contrast to India’s traditionally cautious approach toward the Taliban, its recent overtures may yield diplomatic dividends, particularly given the Taliban’s desire for recognition amidst its turbulent relationship with the international community.

Although no country has formally extended recognition to the Taliban, approximately forty nations continue to engage diplomatically or informally. India’s former envoy to Afghanistan, Jayant Prasad, emphasizes that India has engaged with the Taliban through discreet channels for years, opting to prevent a prolonged absence from Afghan affairs, which could echo the historical disconnections of the 1990s.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has echoed the sentiment of India’s entrenched historical ties with Afghanistan, underscoring over $3 billion in developmental investments. Such contributions have fostered goodwill among Afghan citizens, a valuable asset that India is eager to preserve as regional competition intensifies.

Simultaneously, the changing dynamics with Pakistan inform India’s outreach to the Taliban. As Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan worsen—evidenced by recent violent exchanges—the Taliban’s survival as a Pakistani ally becomes increasingly tenuous, suggesting that India may leverage this shift to its advantage.

Beyond countering Pakistani influence, India’s strategies include deepening access to Central Asia via Afghanistan, a goal made feasible by engagement with the Taliban, which appears amenable to Indian projects that would stimulate its economy. However, experts caution against the inherent risks of this diplomacy, noting the Taliban’s enduring connections to extremist factions and its historical brutality. The underlying question remains whether India can cultivate a reliable partnership with such a volatile entity.

Nevertheless, Mr. Prasad asserts the necessity of diplomatic engagement. He believes that international interaction could encourage the Taliban to undertake reforms concerning human rights, especially for women. He stresses that ignoring the Taliban will not foster improvements in Afghan society and that the group’s current grip on power requires strategizing around collaboration rather than isolation.

India’s outreach to the Taliban has evolved due to the changing geopolitical realities in Afghanistan, as India seeks to reboot its engagement following the Taliban’s resurgence in power. Initial investments in Afghanistan were significant, spanning almost two decades, aimed at nurturing a democratic governance framework, yet those investments were abruptly undone as the Taliban reclaimed control in 2021. The shift in India’s policy also acknowledges the need to counteract increased rival influence in Afghanistan, particularly from Pakistan and China, while striving to maintain positive public perceptions among Afghans.

India’s recent willingness to engage with the Taliban reflects a pragmatic shift aimed at reinforcing its strategic interests in Afghanistan while navigating the complex realities of regional politics. Though there are risks associated with fostering ties with a group known for its historical violent tendencies, experts argue that such engagement may lead to positive pressure for reforms and greater stability in Afghanistan. As India seeks to reclaim its influence, counterbalance Pakistan, and secure its investments in the region, the future of its relationship with the Taliban remains a critical and evolving issue.

Original Source: www.bbc.com

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