Enter The Peace Process

Context: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s comment that India supports talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban signals a subtle shift in India’s approach towards the Afghan crisis.

The evolution of India’s Afghan Approach:

• In the 1990s, 2000s: India steadfastly opposed any dealings with the Taliban.
• 2018- Russia hosted Afghan-Taliban talks: India send a diplomatic delegation.
• 2020- Intra-Afghan peace talks in Doha: External Minister participated in inaugural session via video link.
• 2021 Heart of Asia Conference: India supportive of all efforts being made to “accelerate the dialogue” between Afghan government and Taliban.
  • This is different from India’s long-held position that Any peace process should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

Underlying reasons for the shift in India’s position towards Afghanistan

• US’s new peace push: Two key proposals- A unity transition government between warring parties and UN-led multilateral conference of envoys from India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and the US.
• New strategic reality: Taliban no longer an untouchable force, control much of country’s rural territories.
• Widening engagements: US already signed a deal with Taliban; China, Russia, European powers all reached out to Taliban.

Challenges

• Disruption of economic, strategic and security ties with Afghanistan: if Taliban were to take over-, E.g. Investments in multiple projects dealing with education, power generation, irrigation etc.
• Unanswered question: How to help Afghanistan end violence without a total capitulation to Taliban.

Conclusion: India joining the peace process could strengthen the hands of the Afghan government, and India should strive for “double peace”, both inside Afghanistan and in the region.