India reached to meet Taliban, extended hand of friendship, beggar Pakistan was shocked

New Delhi: On Wednesday last week, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Aamir Khan Muttaki in Dubai, in what was considered India's first major meeting with the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan. India had been trying to improve its relations with the Taliban for some time, although the Taliban captured Kabul in August 2021, after which they have been ruling the whole of Afghanistan. During this period, countries like China, Pakistan and Russia tried to strengthen their relations with Taliban, while India maintained distance on it. In this context, the question arises why India had to negotiate with Taliban after more than three years.

Protecting India's investment in Afghanistan

According to a report, India has invested more than $3 billion in aid and reconstruction projects in Afghanistan in the last two decades. After Taliban came to power, it was believed that this investment of India was now ruined and it was celebrated in Pakistan. However, after capturing Kabul, the Taliban kept their foreign policy away from Pakistan's influence and felt the need for cooperation with India. For this reason, Taliban has taken steps towards signing an agreement with India in the fields of development, trade and humanitarian assistance.

Taliban appointed diplomat in India

The Taliban has appointed Ikramuddin Kamil, an Afghan alumnus, as a diplomat in India. With this, India joins the list of countries that have allowed the Taliban to operate in Afghan embassies, like Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and Uzbekistan. In 2022, India sent a technical team to partially reopen its embassy in Kabul.

India accepted Taliban

India has accepted that Taliban is now a major part of Afghanistan and it is difficult to imagine the situation in Afghanistan without this organization. India does not have time to deny the power of Taliban in Afghanistan, because this can increase the influence of anti-India forces and strengthen the hold of Pakistan and China. India does not want the dominance of Pakistan and China to increase under the influence of Taliban in Afghanistan, because this could have a negative impact on its Central Asia strategy.

India's strategy

India's priority is to reduce Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan and increase its reach in Central Asia by strengthening ties with the Taliban. India has started improving relations with Taliban because India's regional development is not possible without using the land of Afghanistan. Taliban are also realizing that cooperation with India can help them in trade and international forums. Along with this, Afghanistan also wants to end its dependence on Pakistan and this can be possible only through friendship with India. Read Also: Pakistan's Foreign Secretary reached Beijing amid security tension, important decision on CPEC 2.0