Dr. Sudershan Kumar
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recent visit to India (which was third in seventeen months)can be seen as the recognition by Afghanistan of the steadfast contributions of India towards building a strong stable and peaceful Afghanistan. This fact has also been well acknowledged and elucidated internationally including the US President Donald Trump who in his new Afghanistan policy has also acknowledged India’s contribution towards rebuilding of Afghanistan. Also on the other side Donald Trump in its statement reprimanded Pakistan, who was made a Non NATO ally and provided aid to the tune of millions of US dollars which has been used in assisting and nurturing terror groups, who are killing Americans in Afghanistan. He further endorsed to Pakistan that it will have to freeze their terror sanctuaries existing on its soil. This stern message did send shock waves among policy planners in Pak Government, Pakistani Army and ISI.Thus both the incidents of recognizing Pakistan’s role in destabilizing Afghanistan and appreciating India’s contribution in Afghanistan by USA think tank and international community carries immense implications and they expect India to do much more economically for the betterment of Afghanistan and play a role of regional power.
Traditionally India and Afghanistan have strong relationship based on historical and cultural lines and has a spiritual and civilizational connect. This relationship is not only limited to the level of political engagements between Governments at Kabul and at Delhi, but it has its foundations on mutual affection between the people of the two countries. The foundation of this relationship has been since centuries dating back to the times of Indus valley civilization.
The history of Afghanistan can be seen from the Seleucid Empire who controlled that region known as today’s Afghanistan.Earlier Alexander took this region away from Aryans and established his own settlement there. But Seleucus Nicator gave back to Chander Gupte, who brought Buddhism from India. Subsequently this region was conquered by Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. Subsequently larger portion of it seceded and became a part of Indo-Greek Kingdom. But in the later part of 2nd Century Indo-Scythians captured it from Indo Greek and merged it with their empire. During this period, Afghanistan had deep influence of Hindu’s, Buddhists and Zoroastrians culture until the arrival of Islam in seventh century. Even then Hindus and Muslim were living together peacefully. From 10th century to 18th Century Ghaznavis, Ghuris, Khiljis, Suris Durranies and Mughals invaded North India many times and looted all its wealth. During Mughal period (1506-1858) many Afghans migrated to India. Notably among them were Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Khan Sahib. These leaders supported Indian National congress over and above muslim league and actively participated in India’s freedom movement. But after partition North West Front Area (NWFA) became a part of Pakistan against the wishes of local masses. Thus Pakistan came with close proximity to Afghanistan and shared its land borders, whereas India had no direct access to Afghanistan.Even then India’s relation with Afghanistan were warm and intimate during the period of King Zahir Shah and Mohammad Daud Khan until Marxists took control through coup. During Marxists rule, though nationalists views had dominance in Afghanistan yet fundamentalists had started spreading its wings. It is pertinent to mention here that Soviet invasion in Afghanistan brought lot of miseries, despodency for the people of Afghanistan. Over a period of ten years i.e. from soviet troops occupation to its withdrawal nearly 5,62,000 to 2,00,000 civilians were annihilated and many fled the country. Soviet army also suffered heavy causalities. Nearly 15000 troops died in action and many more suffered from injuries. But significantly it crippled the Soviet economy. At the same time this period was best used by Pakistan dictator General Zia ul Haq in establishing its roots of radicalization in Afghanistan with the backing and abutment of USA, Western nations and Muslim world. He opened large number of Madrasas for radicalization and providing training to younger Afghans to fight against Soviet troops. It is important to state here that in 1947 there were only 179 Madrasas in Pakistan but as on date the number has gone up to nearly 40,000. Half of them are not even registered. These Madrasas acted as kindergarterns for training younger Afghan youths who had fled from their homeland in dismal. The training encompassed tactics of guerrilla warfare, carrying out terror activities in Afghanistan and to fight against Soviet troops. As a result large number terror groups emanated and thrived. Notably among them were Taliban, Haqqani, Al Qaeda etc. These groups continued their subversive activities even after withdrawal of Soviet Army, till they established Taliban rule. This Taliban rule toed the line of Pakistan’s army ISI and they facilitated hijacking of Air India flight 817 from Kathmandu to Kandahar. This incident was the stepping stone from which Indo Afghan relations started hitting an all time low. This status quo in relations lingered on till US allied forces entered into Afghanistan in search for Osama bin laden, the main suspect of 9/11 attacks at USA. These allied forces dislodged Taliban and established a democratically elected Government under president Hamid Karzai against the wishes of fundamentalists. This paved the way for the Indian Government to re-establish diplomatic ties with the New Afghan Government and provided support in building infrastructure in Afghanistan. In 2005 India proposed Afghanistan for the membership among SAARC countries. Since then India’s relation with Afghanistan are upbeat and have been swinging in an upward direction. Till date India has spent 2 billion US dollars in building roads, dam, infrastructure and many other activities and signed many agreements. Besides India has initiated trade through air and also made sea route operational through chabahar port of Iran.Through this new route India has sent tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. Thus India has been playing a constructive role in Afghanistan.
But at the same time one needs to re look at the internal situation in Afghanistan where various terror groups are still in process and strike as per their will. Even the Americans over a decade and half have been ineffectual for making any dent on various terror organisations and failed in their mission to completely dismantle and obliterate them from Afghanistan. These terror groups are offering a formidable impedance to American troops with indirect support from Pakistan’s ISI and Army. India’s sincere and honest support for building a strong developed Afghanistan are always been sore in eyes of Pakistan authorities and they are up in antes to sabotage India’s efforts. Attack on Indian national and on Indian embassy are glaring examples. More over dynamics of the region is not in India’s favour. Three central asian countries namely Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan stacked above Afghanistan share long border with China. China has made huge investments there. This region is already flooded with Chinese goods. Therefore, these nations along with China will not let India to establish its footings in Afghanistan.
The author is of the view that whatever India has done so far is only by using USA poggy shoulders. Therefore Indian experts and policy planners must critically examine the explosive situation emerging in Afghanistan due to various terror organisations like Haqqani, Taliban and Al Qadea who have established their roots in Afghanistan and believe in self rule.There fore India in consultation with other countries must evolve a strategy to establish peace in Afghanistan by taking all the stakeholders in confidence for talks.This will pave a way for an era of lasting peace in south Asia which will be beneficial for youths of this region.Failing which , relation ship with Afghanistan will always be a bumpy ride on a slippery road which will not yield much dividends , but will be exploited by its adversaries viz Pakistan and China.
(The author is former Director General DRDO & Special Secretary MOD GOI)
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel