Withdrawal of US and NATO troops has left a void of in the stabilising force in the region. This has allowed Taliban to gain more power and control the strategically important locations in Afghanistan. Since India has been a critical development partner in Afghanistan, it will also be expected to actively engage in Afghanistan’s peacekeeping and nation-building exercises. With Pakistan supporting Taliban, and India backing the Afghanistan’s government it can also lead to an area of conflict for the neighbouring countries.
Last week, social media platforms were flooded with tributes to Danish Siddiqui. A Pulitzer Prize Awardee, Danish had covered major world events with his camera. Some of the widely circulated pictures were captured from the Rohingya Muslim Crises, and the arial shot of Delhi’s Crematorium during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 in India. Danish died covering the firefights between the Afghan National Forces and Taliban in the town of Spin Boldak. Interestingly, the terrorist outfit, Taliban has also expressed regrets over the photo-journalist’s death.
Taliban has been gaining a foothold in Afghanistan since the US President Joe Biden announced American and NATO’s withdrawal from the region by September 11, 2021, on the 20th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Centre which claimed the life of approximately 3000 people. Many experts have raised alarms over exit of the international military presence in an irresponsible manner which would lead to collapse of the Afghan government and rise of Taliban in the region. This is also being seen as Taliban’s victory, and US’s defeat. Additionally, Taliban has started seeing themselves as a government waiting to be instituted. Afghan Government has also raised alarms that after the NATO and US forces leave the country, Afghan forces would not be able to hold up for more than 2 years.
Taliban is already controlling key towns near the Afghan International Border. The officials have also accepted that Islam Qala and Torghundi border crossings in the Herat region are now under the control of Taliban. Spin Boldak, the Afghan town bordering with Pakistan has also been captured by Talibani militia. It is also important to note that The Afghanistan has also accused Pakistan of aiding the Taliban, especially in the bordering region that is claimed by Pakistan and Afghanistan both. Pakistan announced a no-fly zone for the Afghan air-force, therefore hindering the Afghani military actions in the region to control Taliban’s activities. Additionally, according to the news reports, Pakistan has also warned the Afghan forces against any actions to dislodge Taliban from the town of Spin Boldak (the town where Danish was last reporting from). Controlling these strategic regions will not only empower Taliban, but also fund their operations in the region by levying a toll on the trade/goods being transported through the region.
The rising conflict in Afghanistan is also troublesome for Indian interest. Not only India has investments of over USD 3 Billion in Afghanistan, but the nation-building undertakings of India are strategically important as well. India had developed the Afghan Parliament costing USD 90 million that was inaugurated in 2016. Additionally, India also developed the 42MW Salma Dam in the Herat district of Afghanistan. The dam is already under the control of Taliban. It is also important to note that peace, stability, and predictability in Afghanistan is also important for India’s future energy requirements. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline has long been hailed as a solution for energy requirements of the south-east Asia. Although Taliban has supported the project and recognises India’s importance as a development partner, it is important for India, and such development projects that peaceful conditions prevail in the region.
Increase in militancy and armed conflicts in Afghanistan has been a matter of concern for the neighbouring countries, especially since America and NATO are in the last stage of withdrawal. China, India, Russia, and Iran are concerned about any spill-overs of the conflicts in Afghanistan. Afghan government has remarked that in case the national forces are unable to contain Taliban, Afghanistan may seek India’s military support. Military experts have stated that India is unlikely to send the military personnel, as it is against India’s external policy, however Afghanistan can expect support in terms of military equipment and Indian military support in the peacekeeping endeavours under the UN banner. Interestingly, according to the reports, India has made attempts to reach out to Taliban. However, there are no reports of a positive dialogue as of now. The rapidly changing circumstances in the region are expected to be the centre of attention of the Indian security and military experts in the near future.
So basically, withdrawal of US and NATO troops has left a void of a stabilising force in the region. This has allowed Taliban to gain more power and control the strategically important locations in Afghanistan. Since India has been a critical development partner in Afghanistan, it will also be expected to actively engage in Afghanistan’s peacekeeping and nation-building exercises. With Pakistan supporting Taliban, and India backing the Afghanistan’s government it can also lead to an area of conflict for the neighbouring countries.