The Hindu Editorial Analysis
18 October 2025
The Next Steps for Afghanistan After the New Delhi Visit
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS Paper II: International Relations | GS Paper III: Internal Security — Cross-Border Terrorism, Narco-Terrorism
Context
Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, recently visited New Delhi, marking an important stage in India’s pragmatic re-engagement with the Taliban-led regime.
This visit signals India’s attempt to pursue a “step-by-step” diplomatic and developmental engagement, aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan through humanitarian and economic initiatives, while safeguarding India’s security and regional interests.
The editorial argues that India’s engagement should be guided by realism — addressing on-ground realities, narcotics control, education, and river water management — rather than idealistic or reactionary policies.
1. Background: From Isolation to Cautious Engagement
a) India’s Post-2021 Policy Shift
After the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, India initially closed its embassy and suspended aid projects. However, over time, the government realized the strategic cost of disengagement.
India has since re-established a technical mission in Kabul, focusing on humanitarian assistance, infrastructure maintenance, and regional security coordination.
b) The Delhi Visit: Significance
The visit of Acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi marked the first high-level contact between India and the Taliban government since its formation.
The joint statement emphasized two key points:
- Afghanistan’s pledge not to allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against India.
- India’s reiteration of its commitment to provide humanitarian and developmental support.
Though Islamabad viewed the visit with suspicion, it underlines New Delhi’s independent diplomatic approach in the region.
2. Terror and Realities on the Ground
a) India’s Security Calculus
India’s primary concern is the presence of anti-India terror networks in Afghanistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K).
- The UN Security Council’s Monitoring Report (2025) acknowledges that the Taliban continues to struggle against IS-K, while covertly supporting the TTP to maintain ties with Pakistan.
- The Taliban’s double game complicates India’s counter-terror diplomacy.
b) Pakistan’s Dilemma
Pakistan wants Kabul to act against the TTP, yet fears retaliation inside its own borders.
Meanwhile, India perceives the situation as an opportunity to engage directly with Kabul, thereby diluting Islamabad’s monopoly over Afghan policy.
3. Narco-Terrorism and the Role for India
a) The Poppy Problem
Afghanistan’s economy still depends heavily on opium cultivation and narcotics trafficking, accounting for nearly 15% of GDP.
Though the Taliban has announced bans on poppy farming, reports suggest a resurgence in meth and opium cultivation.
b) India’s Possible Role
India can contribute by:
- Supporting crop substitution programs integrating poppy eradication with alternative livelihoods and export-oriented agriculture.
- Expanding Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) training programs for Afghan enforcement agencies.
- Offering expertise in sustainable agriculture and irrigation technologies to reduce dependency on illicit economies.
This approach would combine India’s soft power in capacity-building with its hard interest in border security.
4. Economic and Water Diplomacy
a) The Shahtoot Dam and Indus Water Linkages
India’s commitment to the Shahtoot Dam project in Kabul has resurfaced as a major point of contention with Pakistan, which fears reduced Indus River flows by 16%.
The editorial recommends that:
- India and Pakistan should negotiate a new river-sharing framework involving Afghanistan.
- The Kabul River Basin should be treated as a shared hydrological system, fostering regional cooperation rather than conflict.
b) Building Kabul’s Basic Infrastructure
Years of war have left Kabul’s urban services in ruins. Reports even warn that Kabul could run dry by 2030.
India can assist with:
- Urban water management,
- Solar power and energy restoration, and
- Irrigation revival programs.
5. Education and Women’s Empowerment
a) The Taliban’s Educational Policy
Education — especially for women — remains Afghanistan’s most contentious social issue.
Moderate clerics like Abdul Baqi Haqqani, who supported women’s education, have been marginalized by hardliners such as Mawlawi Habibullah Agha.
b) India’s Role in Education
India can:
- Revive ICCR scholarships for Afghan students, expanding online and distance learning.
- Offer special exchange programs for women and youth through flexible foreign exchange rules.
- Focus on vocational training aligned with India’s planned investments in Afghan sectors like mining, power, and water management.
Education must remain India’s long-term bridge of influence, even when political conditions are uncertain.
6. India’s Strategic Objective: Stability Through Inclusion
a) Goal: A Stable Afghanistan
India’s guiding principle should be to stabilize Afghanistan as a humanitarian partner, not as a patron or rival of Pakistan.
This demands an inclusive “whole-of-government” approach, synchronizing efforts across:
- The Ministry of External Affairs,
- Defence and Home Affairs (for counter-terrorism), and
- Commerce and Education (for development outreach).
b) The Pakistan Factor
While Pakistan views India’s outreach as encirclement, a stable Afghanistan actually benefits both — reducing extremism, curbing refugee flows, and limiting narcotics traffic.
India’s challenge lies in pursuing pragmatic cooperation without giving up on its core democratic and human rights values.
Conclusion
India’s renewed engagement with the Taliban-led Afghanistan must go beyond symbolism and evolve into a multi-pronged policy focused on:
- Security cooperation,
- Economic reconstruction,
- Water and agricultural diplomacy, and
- Humanitarian partnerships.
The visit by Amir Khan Muttaqi should be seen as a step toward regional stability, not recognition of the Taliban regime.
By blending strategic patience with developmental pragmatism, India can re-establish itself as Afghanistan’s most credible and consistent partner.
“A stable Afghanistan is not a zero-sum game; it’s a regional necessity. And India must lead with compassion anchored in strategy.”