India in Afghanistan and Beyond: Opportunities and Constraints

Abstract

This report outlines India’s current interests in Afghanistan, how it has sought to achieve these aims, and the consequences of these actions for India, Pakistan, and the international efforts to stabilize Pakistan. It argues that India’s interests in Afghanistan are not only Pakistan-specific but also, equally, if not more important, tied to India’s desire to be, and to be seen, as an extra-regional power moving toward great power status. This argument is elaborated in several parts. First, the report contextualizes India’s interests in Afghanistan within the larger canvas of India’s security interests in its extended strategic neighborhood. Second, it details India’s specific interests in Afghanistan, and third, it draws out the various means by which India has sought to achieve its objectives. The final section draws out the implications for Afghanistan’s future and, by extension, regional security.