VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

International Relations Class 01

INDIA- AFGHANISTAN: (1:15:45 PM):

Durand line.
Anglo-Afghan wars.
2001- Taliban.
2004- New constitution.
2008- Obama becomes President.
2012- Post-war reconstruction.
2021-NATO continued in a support role.
2021- Taliban captured power.
Hamid Karzai becomes President.
Security transition.
2011- Strategic partnership agreement.
India's approach:
Peace and Reconciliation.
Development economy.
Capacity building.
Salma Dam, Parliament building.
Zaranj Delaram Highway.
Pule khumri transmission line.
Hajigak Iron Mine.
New development program.
Heart of Asia process or the Istanbul process.
Started in 2001
Challenges: (2:00:57 PM):
Location- Geography.
Lack of direct connectivity.
Security issues- Taliban regrouped and attacked the Indian embassy in Kabul.
Attributed to Haqqani network.
Strategic depth- Pakistan views Afghanistan from such a prism.
Fluctuating approach of the US.
Chabahar port.
Building dedicated air corridors.
India tried to overcome the difficulty.
We conveyed our concerns to the USA.
India's role is limited by 2 factors.
We provide needs-based assistance.
MI 25 helicopters to Afganistan.
Engagements with the Afghan society.
Cinema and cricket are the soft powers that connect us.
Cricket ground for Afghan national teams.
Trump was elected in 2016.
Criticized the Afghanistan war.
2018- Withdrew from JCPOA.
Started dialogue with Taliban.
2020- Agreement- US and Taliban Agreement.
Intra-Afghan Talks.
Exchange of prisoners.
Intra-Afghan Process.
Counter-terrorism guarantee.
Withdrawal from Afghanistan was chaotic.
Taliban entered Kabul.
India's role: (2:55:00 PM):
India continued to engage with the USA.
Respect the constitutional politics.
Uphold women and human rights.
Any vacant territories should not be allowed to be used for terrorist acts.
Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process.
2020 Feb- Agreement between Taliban and US.
Sept 2020- Intra-Afghan talks start.
Question: (3:23:26 PM):
Q. The proposed withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan in 2014 is fraught with major security implications for the counters of the region. Examine in light of the fact that India is faced with a plethora of challenges and needs to safeguard its own strategic interests. [200 Words, 10 Marks].
Approach:
Substantiating the statement.
Withdrawal of the UN-mandated ISAF marks a transition in Afghanistan which is significant for the larger region as well as India.
In this context, the following may be observed:
Security implications- Afghan soil has been used for terror acts and this can embolden the Taliban and pose risks to Indian citizens involved there.
Regional Stability;
Instability in Afghanistan may impact the geopolitics in the region.
Pakistan- Strategic depth and may be emboldened by the withdrawal of ISAF.
Spillover effect:
Increase in cross-border infiltration of foreign fighters.
Economic implications:
development partnership with the Afghans.
Any security implication may impact development projects.
In view of the above,
Solutions:
Assess the situation and take, measures accordingly in security.
Afghan national defense forces may also be assisted via training, capacity building, etc.
India needs to work with countries with shared concerns.
To have continued peace.
Multilateral forums such as the UNSC Heart of Asia Process and SAARC may be utilized.
To conclude, India's strength lies in the goodwill it enjoys among the Afghan people.
This continues with the priorities stated in the Strategic Partnership Agreement 2011 and may benefit from the appointment of a special envoy to Afghanistan.

The topic for the next class- India- Bangladesh