Delhi Declaration Reaffirms India’s Commitment to the Security of Afghanistan

On August 15^th, Taliban took over Kabul ushering the country into a despotic rule. India at the helm of UNSC presidency during the Kabul fall has been instrumental in bringing out the UNSC resolution 2593 to effectively deal with Taliban in Afghanistan. The resolution passed on Aug 30^th demands that Afghan territory shouldn’t be used to threaten or attack any other country or to shelter and train terrorists.

The resolution calls for safe passage and departure of Afghans and foreigners who wish to leave Afghanistan, unhindered access to UN agencies, strengthening of efforts for humanitarian assistance to the country, upholding the rights of women, minorities, children and sought for an inclusive and negotiated political settlement.

Unlike other legislations, UNSC resolution carries some heft. Donning the leadership role, India played a crucial role in reaching a global consensus on Afghanistan situation. Notably, this has been first legislation that acknowledged Taliban as defacto in charge of Afghanistan.

With this India has indicated that it is adjusting to the reality of Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Though this change of approach doesn’t state that India is ready to do business with Taliban or anything close to recognizing it. But this necessarily demonstrates that India will not abjure its stakes in Afghanistan.

In tandem with the new policy, a day after the UNSC resolution, Indian delegation led by envoy Deepak Mittal held discussions with head of Taliban’s political official Sher Mohammed Stanekzai at Doha² for safe and early return of Indian nationals.

On Oct 21^st, weeks, ahead of the proposed Delhi Security Dialogue, Indian delegation led by JP Singh met representatives of Taliban along the sidelines of Moscow Format meeting expressing readiness to provide humanitarian assistance³. Expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, in his online address to G20 Summit, Prime Minister Modi stressed on the need for ensuring “immediate and unhindered access” to humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

India has always supported the people of Afghanistan, their aspirations. Hence instituted several capacity building and developmental projects in all Afghan provinces. Wary of escalating food crisis, India had planned to send 50,000MT of wheat to Taliban ruled Afghanistan and placed formal request with Pakistan but India hasn’t received any reply. India has been sending nearly 1 lakh MT of wheat to Afghanistan for nearly two decades. In 2002, Pakistan refused India access to Afghanistan through its territory and ever since India relied on the circuitous Chabahar route for transit.

As opposed to India’s developmental role, Pakistan exulted Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and quickly instituted a friendly pro-Islamabad regime in Kabul and asserted its control. Three months hence, Afghanistan has plunged into worst humanitarian crisis. Hunger and famine pushed thousands of families into extreme poverty. Governance has come to a halt. Now, the devastating consequences of migration from Afghanistan and the security threats are unsettling the immediate and extended neighbourhood.

In wake of the escalating uncertainty, to address the security challenges of Afghanistan called for a dialogue with regional countries. Indian NSA Ajit Doval convened the Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan with NSAs of seven regional players- Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan that have crucial stakes in security and stability of Afghanistan on Nov 10^th.  Terming “a spoiler can’t be a peacemaker”¹ Pakistan NSA Yusuf Moeed, turned down India’s invitation. Soon, China followed the suit. Citing “scheduling issues”, Beijing skipped the regional dialogue.

Ironically, Chinese special envoy attended the Troika plus meeting hosted by Pakistan a day after Delhi Dialogue. The absence of Pakistan and China has been along expected lines. Vindicating popular opinion, The Global Times, carried out an op-ed on Delhi dialogue which read, “India wants to use the event to show its influence in regional affairs and strike a blow at Pakistan…… With China, Pakistan’s absence, India-hosted Afghan meeting (is) unlikely to yield tangible results”⁴.  

GT propaganda made it amply clear that the Iron brothers are determined to undermine India’s efforts. Pakistan has always been reluctant to engage with India on Afghanistan for the fear of losing its dominance. It has always sought to marginalize India’s role and downplayed India’s developmental efforts.

India condemned Pakistan’s decision to skip NSA level talks as reflective of its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate. Indeed, US Congressional Research Service voiced similar opinion stating, “Pakistan has long played an active and by many accounts, disruptive and destabilizing role in Afghan affairs, including through the provision of support to the Taliban”⁵. For decades, Pakistan stonewalled the economic integration of South Asia via SAARC.  Now, it is impeding the regional cooperation in Afghanistan issue as well.

Pakistan seeks to gain ‘strategic depth’ in Central Asia through Afghanistan and Beijing needs Afghanistan for smooth operationalization of OBOR. Afghanistan is crucial for the geopolitical aspirations of China and Pakistan. The resurgence of Taliban is an opportunity for both to achieve their objectives. Defying international consensus, Pakistan and China have been providing support to Taliban.

Russia, on the other hand has been toeing a middle path. It participated in Delhi Dialogue and Troika plus meet. Indeed, its dichotomy is reflected in dissonance of its envoys as well. While Russian NSA Patrushev on his first visit to India days after telephonic conversation between Modi and Putin on August 24^th expressed security concerns to Russia due to Afghanistan, its special envoy Zamir Kabulov who attended Troika plus backed, “engage and recognize Taliban” approach.

Be as it may, Russian participation had lent much weight to Delhi Dialogue and NSA Doval stated that Russia first came up with the idea that India should host a security dialogue on Afghanistan. China and Pakistan aren’t keen on restoring peace and stability in the region. On the contrary, Iran, Russia and Central Asian countries are wary of the security threats emanating from Afghanistan. Privy to the ramifications on their respective nations during the previous Taliban regime, a surge in violence across their borders is now unsettling them.

India’s legitimate concerns find congruence with regional countries that have clearly acknowledged New Delhi’s leadership. Presence of seven regional NSA exemplifies the same. Aiming at bringing out stability in Afghanistan, India laid out a clear framework- the Delhi Declaration. All countries “reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs”⁶. This is an apparent dig at Pakistan which treats Afghanistan as a protectorate and the Sino-Pak strategy of capitalizing on Afghanistan’s situation for their geopolitical ambitions.

Regional countries have been at the receiving end of terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan in the past and now have unequivocally “condemned in strongest terms all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including its financing, the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and countering radicalization, to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe have for global terrorism”. China and Pakistan have coopted terror agencies and peddled oxymoronic “good and bad terrorism theory”. Delhi Declaration calls for international scrutiny and collaboration to contain the menace of terrorism that is threatening to extend its tentacles.

Latest UN figures state that 85% of world’s opium is produced in Afghanistan. Drugs have been an important source of revenue for Taliban. Taliban thrived on the funds of narco-trade to sustain the jihadi movement. The rise of Taliban has compounded the menace of drug trafficking and the participants of Delhi Dialogue, who have been victims of narco-terrorism “called for a collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region”.

Finally, a stable Afghanistan can’t be realized without the participation of all stakeholders in governance and humanitarian assistance. Delhi Dialogue rightly emphasized on these aspects- stressed the need for an open and inclusive government which ensures that fundamental rights of women, children, minorities are not violated. It also called on UN agencies to continue to play a role in Afghanistan to ensure unimpeded distribution of aid to all sections of the society.

Irrespective of the regime, India has always supported the ordinary Afghans. Reaffirming its commitment to the country, despite the Sino-Pak nexus attempting to derail a regional cooperative framework, India reached out to countries for a broader regional coalition on Afghanistan. Shedding its historical reticence, asserting her legitimate interests in restoring peace and stability, India adopted a pragmatic approach towards Afghanistan.

An unstable Afghanistan is a disaster in making. While mild-mannered Taliban diplomats in the recent past tried to project Taliban 2.0 as an inclusive and open force, unrelenting violence, targeted attacks on minorities have inexorably exposed their true nature. Afghanistan crisis needs a long term solution and a committed coalition. Though the dialogue may not yield immediate results, Delhi regional security dialogue underscores India’s firm commitment towards Afghanistan. It establishes India’s role as an important regional player in ensuring peace and development of Afghanistan.

Taliban welcomed the Delhi Dialogue and said, “the India meeting is effective for Afghanistan because India is one of the aid-providing countries to Afghanistan and it is now interested in supporting Afghanistan”⁷. Reportedly, at the Troika plus meeting held by Pakistan, Taliban representative asked PM Imran Khan to facilitate the transport of Indian wheat through Wagah port to Afghanistan and reinstitute visa services.

@ Copyrights reserved.