New Delhi: In what has now been reportedly declared as an “open war” against Afghanistan by Pakistan, the question that gains significance amid the regional tension is where does India stand? So far, there has been no official reaction from the Indian authorities over the latest escalation as Pakistan launched overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan, heavily bombing multiple key cities, including Kabul and Kandahar, and claiming that 133 people were killed.
Islamabad has called such an action as a “strong and effective” retaliation for “unprovoked firing” from across the border. Though New Delhi has maintained silence over the issue now, India had expressed its concerns and views regarding Afghanistan. According to various media reports, India had previously supported Afghanistan’s sovereignty in its conflict with Pakistan.
“India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said last Sunday, as quoted by The Hindu. Last week, Kabul had claimed that Islamabad targeted civilian areas in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika in eastern Afghanistan, leading to at least 18 casualties.
In October last year, tension had intensified between Pakistan and Afghanistan at a time when Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was visiting India. Back then, India had come out in support of Afghanistan. It had lashed out at Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism and then blaming its neighbours, reported Hindustan Times.
“Three things are clear – one, that Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. Two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures, and three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories,” Jaiswal had said, as quoted in the report.
Amid tensions, new Afghan envoy to India
While the situation remains tense between Kabul and Islamabad, Kabul has appointed its first envoy to India—nearly five years after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. It is being seen as a milestone in diplomatic engagement between the two countries and indicative of goodwill. Noor Ahmad Noor, a Taliban-appointed diplomat, has assumed responsibility as Chargé d’Affaires at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi. This is the first such posting to India since the Taliban returned to power more than four years ago.
The changing regional landscape & India
In 2021 after Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, India had relied on sending humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to maintain a presence there. However, New Delhi has never taken the formal step of recognizing the Taliban government, so far.
India has formed a humanitarian corridor through Iran’s Chabahar Port to send wheat, vaccines, and medicines to Afghanistan, bypassing neighbour and adversary, Pakistan.
A chance & a concern for New Delhi
But, India’s stand for the Taliban had been quite different historically. India had regarded the Taliban with hostility, considering its extremist Sunni Islam ideology and close affiliation with the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment. But, the regional landscape is changing, according to experts. Pakistan’s influence in Kabul is waning. This comes at a time when China is expanding its reach in Kabul. For India, there’s both an opportunity or opening as well as a growing pressure to emerge as a key regional player. New Delhi’s key concerns will be to keep trade routes open through Iran, and also ensure that Afghanistan doesn’t become a base for anti-India groups. According to foreign policy experts, New Delhi has an opportunity to expand its influence in Afghanistan beyond humanitarian relief.
Iran offers to help ‘facilitate dialogue’
Another key development amid the ongoing tension is that Iran has offered to help “facilitate dialogue” to resolve conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad declared “open war” on the Taliban government.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.
Russia will consider providing mediation to Afghanistan and Pakistan: Foreign Ministry
Meanwhile, Russia has also urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to halt cross-border attacks immediately and resolve their differences through diplomatic means, the RIA news agency reported on Friday, citing the Foreign Ministry.
The Ministry reportedly said Russia would consider providing mediation to Pakistan and Afghanistan, if requested by both parties.
China also expresses concern
Amid such developments, China has expressed deep concerns over escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. According to reports, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday, that Beijing had been mediating the conflict through it own channels, Reuters reported. Foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, reportedly made the statement during a regular press conference. China is willing to play a constructive role in cooling the situation, she added.
