Courting Kabul, Challenging Conscience

While India aims to safeguard its investments, projects, and influence in Afghanistan, it must also address concerns about legitimising a regime that has marginalized women, curtailed press freedoms, and imposed strict social controls. The international spotlight means that every gesture—state receptions, media interactions, and ceremonial visits—is scrutinised for its implications on India’s global image

I hang my head in shame when I see the kind of respect and reception has been given to the representative of the world’s worst terrorists group Taliban by those who beat the pulpit against all kind of terrorists

– Javed Akhtar, poet, lyricist, scriptwriter, atheist and a die-hard optimist

When the erstwhile USSR sent its troops to Afghanistan on December 24, 1979, the BBC quoted an All India Radio flash to report the development. We were so well-entrenched in Afghan affairs that even distant events felt immediate. There was a time when India invested deeply in its neighbour, contributing $3 billion toward education, health, and road infrastructure.

But the rise and rapid expansion of the Taliban as a terror outfit has drastically altered India-Afghanistan ties. Gone are the days when the famous Kabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore was part of my generation’s childhood reading. Or, for that matter, when Afghan Snow was a beloved cold cream cherished by my mother and aunts.

India and Afghanistan have long shared a rich tapestry of cultural, historical, and civilizational ties. From the ancient Silk Route to the spread of Buddhism, the interactions between the two nations have been profound. In the modern era, India was the first country to recognize Afghanistan's independence in 1947. Over the decades, this foundation evolved into a robust partnership characterized by mutual respect and cooperation.

In 2011, India and Afghanistan formalized their relationship through the Strategic Partnership Agreement, Afghanistan's first such agreement with any country. This accord encompassed various sectors, including security cooperation, economic development, and cultural exchange. India committed to assisting Afghanistan in enhancing its security capabilities by providing training for Afghan security personnel and aiding in the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure.

Notably, India invested in projects like the Salma Dam (renamed the Afghan-India Friendship Dam) and the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, which connects Afghanistan to Iran's Chabahar Port, facilitating Afghan trade with India bypassing Pakistan.

As stated earlier, the resurgence of the Taliban in 2021 marked a significant turning point in Indo-Afghan relations. India's embassy in Kabul was closed, and diplomatic engagements were suspended. However, recognizing the changing geopolitical landscape, India adopted a so-called pragmatic approach by announcing the reopening of its embassy in Kabul, This move, it is claimed, aims to safeguard India's strategic interests, particularly in countering Pakistan's influence and mitigating the growing presence of China in the region.

This ‘pragmatism’ is, however, not without the policy flip-flops as India’s engagement with Afghanistan has entered a profoundly complex phase, marked by both opportunity and controversy. The six-day visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India has thrust the nation’s foreign policy choices into sharp focus. It has exposed the contradictions and challenges inherent in India’s Afghanistan policy, sparking domestic debates, international scrutiny, and regional instability.

India has historically invested in Afghanistan through infrastructure projects, education, and humanitarian assistance, often positioning itself as a stabilizing partner in the region. The Taliban, for its part, seeks legitimacy and economic support. Visiting New Delhi provides the group a chance to portray itself as a credible interlocutor in regional affairs, even while its domestic policies remain internationally condemned.

The six-day itinerary, which included official meetings, cultural engagements, and high-level discussions, demonstrated the choreography of diplomacy. India extended a warm welcome, hoping to signal continuity in bilateral ties and maintain channels of communication. But this exercise in statecraft has provoked sharp questions about the message being sent domestically and globally, particularly regarding human rights and the treatment of women in Afghanistan.

One of the first controversies erupted when female journalists were barred from covering a press briefing featuring Muttaqi. The exclusion drew widespread criticism, with journalists’ associations and civil society questioning the ethics of India’s hospitality toward a regime known for suppressing women’s rights. Although Indian authorities and Muttaqi claimed it was a "technical oversight," the optics of the incident were damaging. Critics argued that India’s decision to host the Taliban leader while allowing such exclusions risked appearing to condone gender discrimination, undermining the nation’s longstanding promotion of women’s empowerment through campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.

Muttaqi’s visit to Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh added another layer of controversy. The seminary, an influential Islamic institution, extended a ceremonial welcome, attracting national attention. While the visit was framed as a religious and cultural engagement, it sparked debate about whether India was inadvertently offering moral endorsement to a group whose policies starkly conflict with the principles of gender equality and civil liberties. The optics of such receptions, particularly in a democratic and secular society like India, intensified public and media scrutiny.

The Taliban leader was also received with formal state hospitality, including grand receptions and ceremonial honours. This high-profile attention triggered domestic criticism. Prominent voices in media and culture expressed dismay, arguing that India should not accord respect to leaders of a regime that has systematically curtailed freedoms and rights. Javed Akhtar, the celebrated lyricist, famously expressed his embarrassment, stating that the treatment of Muttaqi was morally troubling. The response highlighted the tension between realpolitik considerations and ethical imperatives, placing India’s diplomatic judgment under the spotlight.

Muttaqi’s visit coincided with escalating tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Reports emerged of clashes resulting in significant casualties, with Afghanistan claiming 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and Pakistan reporting the loss of 23 soldiers. The confrontation, which led to the temporary closure of border crossings, underscored the volatile security situation in the region. Analysts suggest that Pakistan’s aggressive posture may have been a reaction to India’s deepening engagement with Kabul, reflecting Islamabad’s strategic anxiety over losing influence in Afghanistan.

The border violence also posed immediate challenges for India, as instability in Afghanistan has direct implications for regional security, trade routes, and counterterrorism efforts. India’s diplomatic balancing act involves maintaining ties with Kabul while navigating its historically tense relationship with Islamabad. In this context, Muttaqi’s visit became a lightning rod for broader regional power dynamics.

Internationally, India’s approach has elicited mixed responses. On one hand, analysts acknowledge that engaging with the Taliban is a pragmatic necessity for securing strategic interests, given Afghanistan’s geopolitical significance, whileon the other, the global community remains wary of the Taliban’s human rights record. Western nations, while diplomatically cautious, are keen observers of India’s moves, particularly as they pertain to counterterrorism cooperation and regional stability.

Moreover, India’s engagement places it at the intersection of moral and strategic dilemmas. While India aims to safeguard its investments, projects, and influence in Afghanistan, it must also address concerns about legitimizing a regime that has marginalized women, curtailed press freedoms, and imposed strict social controls. The international spotlight means that every gesture—state receptions, media interactions, and ceremonial visits—is scrutinized for its implications on India’s global image.

India’s engagement with Afghanistan will likely continue to be a contentious, high-stakes endeavor. Moving forward, it is essential that India’s foreign policy strategies are transparent, consistent, and aligned with the nation’s foundational values. Success will hinge on India’s ability to engage the Taliban constructively without compromising its commitment to human rights, gender equality, and regional stability. In the volatile theatre of South Asian geopolitics, India’s choices today will reverberate far beyond the borders of Delhi and Kabul. This where the Narendra Modi government’s diplomacy will be put to test.

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based author and independent media veteran, running websites and a youtube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)