EXPLORING INDIA'S STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN AFTER US WITHDRAWAL TO DEAL WITH THE TALIBAN

Abstract

Situation in Afghanistan is changing rapidly after the intrusion and increasing dominance of Taliban and recently with the United States and the Taliban reached an agreement on February 29, 2020, which will mark a turning point in America's longest war. As a result, the majority of US troops in Afghanistan are expected to leave by the end of 2021. As a result, if this agreement is implemented properly, factions of the Taliban may have a greater foothold in Afghan politics. For a country like India, this is not ideal. So, considering all these situations and information, this paper was designed to understand the current strategies of India after America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The research identified that in Afghanistan, the Haqqani network, a prominent Taliban branch, has assaulted Indian installations. India need the presence of US-led soldiers as well as a sense of stability in order to invest in Afghanistan's future. India's stability is under jeopardy, and it has to refocus its aspirations immediately. In today's fast-changing world, this essay analyses the dangers of India's involvement in Afghanistan and offers strategies to address them. The US-Taliban agreement states that the Taliban would not allow terrorist groups to operate on Afghan soil, but it is unclear how the agreement will be monitored and carried out. The strategies currently deployed by India includes the different trade agreements or approvals to conduct business activities for economic welfare of both nations, mutual understanding for geopolitical situations, future developments etc.