India and Neighbouring Countries: Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country that acts as a gateway towards Central Asia for India.
They share common borders in the PoK regions of India.

Historical Relations
- The relation emerged from the ancient and medieval times.
- Indus Valley culture had notable links with Afghanistan
- Lodhi and Sur’s dynasties had ancestral links to Afghanistan.
- The Gandharan empire is mentioned in many Indian historical texts and the Buddhist culture present there.
Political Relations
- India was the only South Asian country to recognise the Soviet-backed democratic republic of Afghanistan in 1980, but the relationship diminished during the 1990s Afghan Civil War and the Taliban’s government takeover.
- In 2011, India signed a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan with an aim to develop Afghanistan’s infrastructure and institutions.
Economic Relations
- India is the fifth largest donor in the World and the largest in Asia to Afghanistan.
- Infrastructure Development:
  - - Afghan India friendship dam (Salma Dam) in Herat region on Harirud river.
    - India supported the construction of the Afghan Parliament.
    - Supported the construction of the Zaranj-Delaram Highway.
  - Connectivity Project:
    - Direct Air Fright corridor
    - Both countries are part of the Tapi pipeline along with Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
    - Both are part of the international North-South corridor.
Defence and Security Relations
- India provided training for Afghanistan soldiers and their capacity building before the Taliban takeover.

The withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 as part of the Doha talks resulted in the takeover of the government by the Taliban which has posed various threats to India.
Economic Concerns:
- The fate of Chabahar Port is still undecided.
- Concern for infrastructure projects developed by India in Afghanistan.
Security Concerns:
- Afghan soil may be used by anti-India elements like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashker-e-Taiba.
- The presence of the Golden Crescent may increase the inflow of drugs and narcotics.
India’s Stand on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan
- India hasn’t directly recognized the new government regime due to the ongoing human rights violations there. However, discussions are underway for re-establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries.