Sahil Kishore Sharma
India and Afghanistan relations do not require any introduction and are not influenced by any international recognition. Both these countries share a deep seeded trust and are truly global strategic partners. If we trace the history the foot prints of amity between the two countries can be seen in bold and enlarged letter. Right from the time of Indus Valley till now India has always been connected in one or the other way with Afghans. In fact history is the proof that the Republic of India was the only South Asian nation to recognise the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Soviet Union’s military presence in Afghan territories, and provided humanitarian aid to President Najibullah’s Government in Afghanistan. Today as Afghanistan is in turbulence and China is using its utmost power to expand its presence in Pakistan and surround India in the western front, the role of Afghanistan for India has become Politically, Diplomatically and Strategically very significant.
India was at back foot recently when the newly elected President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani chose China and Pakistan ahead of India in its political sphere of influence. This was hint and a warning sign for the Government of India to change their global policies and strengthen their diplomatic relations ever than before, in other words its time for India to take Afganistan more seriously and there are many reasons for that some of them are mentioned below:
1.Recent visit of Chinese President To Pakistan: The visit of Xi Jingping to Pakistan was not less than a show of power and diplomatic deterrence for India. A high profile visit was on the prime time of the global media and was termed as geo political game changer. Both the nations have signed a deal of $45 billion, the money will be used by Pakistan to build ambitious Maritime Silk Road (MSR).Though termed as an infrastructural deal sends a high sign of caution to India because Pakistan in turn will provide China an access in to Indian Ocean through its port of Gwadar.
2.Deep ties between China and Russia.: As the tension is escalating between USA and Moscow over the Ukraine issue and a situation of tension is building up between Europe and Russia, the country which has been the biggest beneficiary of this animosity is China. Apart from signing a deal with Russia to buy the petroleum products China has moved one step forward to deepen its military ties with Russia. Xi Jingping is expected to visit Russia to participate in the Military Parade in Moscow to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. For the first time it is expected that a contingent of Chinese troops will also participate in the parade which will be seen a symbolic gesture between the two nations. Apart from the parade Moscow is also expected to arm China with highly sophisticated S-400 air defence missiles.
India Prime Minister is doing a very great job as far as his policies on international relations are concerned but we should not forget that world is not sleeping. As India’s influence in the Asia pacific is increasing it should be ready for a very tough competition from the other countries as everyone is trying its utmost to expand its roots is this region. Though President Ashraf Ghanai gave an explanation for choosing India later than Pakistan in his statement he said that “He wanted to come in the first month after becoming President but PM Modi had a very active schedule”, this explanation is seen no more than an excuse to cover his intention because it is not hidden from anybody that it was Ashraf Ghanai who had given backing to Islamabad in an event that saw the US attack on Pakistan, in which he has termed both Afghanistan and Pakistan as “inseparable brothers.”
Keeping in view all these things the role of Afghanistan in today’s world is much more important than it was ever before. India is in a very good position and shares a very good relation with both Afghanistan and its people. India has not left any card unturned to invest in education, agriculture and power projects there. When it comes in winning heart of Afghan people Pakistan will always be a step backward to India because Afghan people personally feel Pakistan responsible for the turmoil in their country as they groomed Taliban on their land. So, India should put up all its efforts to strengthen its relation and deepen its ties with Afghanistan and should try to increase its foot hold at ground zero both politically and militarily. The political scenario has changed both in India and Afghanistan and geopolitical expansion of China has forced India to take the relations with Afghanistan to the next level. The seed which will be sown today will reap in a fruit tomorrow and an opportunity which is missed today will be repented for years to come. If India dreams to be a super power it has to take Afghanistan hand in hand and if needed even to carry it on its shoulders and should project Afghanistan as a True Global Strategic Partner.
(The author is Civil Engineer, Student of International Releations and Freelance writer.)