Introduction
India’s bold reachout to the Taliban 2.0 post the Operation Sindoor against Pakistan is a defining moment in South Asian geopolitics, signaling a pragmatic recalibration of its foreign policy to secure strategic interests and reshape regional dynamics. Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s phone call with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi expressing gratitude for the Taliban’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack (22 April 2025) in Jammu and Kashmir. It is also being argued that In January (2025) Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi in Dubai.India’s reaching out to Taliban can be seen as a calculated embrace of Afghanistan’s complex realities aimed at countering the Pakistan-China nexus for fostering a stable South Asia and positioning India as a regional leader.
The Strategic Context and Mutual Motivations
India’s decision to engage the Taliban at a ministerial level is rooted in Afghanistan’s enduring strategic significance and the evolving geopolitical landscape. With billions of dollars invested in Afghan infrastructure, education, and healthcare since 2001, India has cultivated deep goodwill, evident in projects like the Salma Dam and the Afghan Parliament building. After the US forces exit,The Taliban’s return to power though posed a challenge, given their historical ties to Pakistan, however, the Taliban’s need for international legitimacy and economic support, coupled with their pragmatic shift toward diversifying partnerships created a window of opportunity that India must leverage. India’s outreach, building on technical engagements in Kabul and culminating in the recent reach out to Taliban, seizes this moment to secure influence in a region vital for countering and bypassing Pakistan to access Central Asian markets via Iran’s Chabahar port. Unlike Western powers, whose military interventions left mistrust, or China, whose Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) often fosters dependency, India’s non-interventionist, development-focused approach resonates with Afghan aspirations. This engagement counters China’s growing influence in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s leverage over the Taliban, positioning India as a trusted partner.
The Taliban’s friendly response reflects a blend of pragmatic necessity and historical affinity. Facing global isolation and economic crises, the Taliban seeks partners who deliver aid without ideological or military strings. India’s track record of training thousands of Afghan students, providing medical tourism, and exporting soft power through Bollywood has fostered trust, even among Afghani masses.Further the regime’s desire to reduce dependence on Pakistan, which has often curtailed Afghan sovereignty and forcibly sent back Afghan refugees further explains the State of current Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. Sociologically, India’s engagement aligns with the aspirations of Afghanistan’s urban youth and emerging middle class, who value India’s contributions to education and infrastructure. While hardline factions within the Taliban may resist external partnerships, India’s calibrated approach of offering development without interference has struck a chord, laying the groundwork for cautious cooperation.
Deepening Ties: A Multifaceted Strategy
To deepen this relationship, India must pursue a multifaceted strategy that builds trust, delivers benefits and subtly influences the Taliban’s governance while advancing regional stability. Economically, India should prioritize high-impact projects aligned with the current Afghan needs like reviving the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline and expanding Chabahar port connectivity that can integrate Afghanistan into South Asian trade networks thereby reducing reliance on Pakistan. These initiatives should emphasize local employment, particularly for youth, to foster economic resilience and goodwill. Humanitarian aid must be scaled up, focusing on food security, healthcare, and education. Mobile health clinics and digital learning platforms, tailored to remote areas, can address immediate needs while showcasing India’s commitment. A gendered approach is also critical like unding women-led cooperatives and vocational training can empower Afghan women thereby gently pressuring the Taliban to ease restrictions on women’s education and jobs. Further India’s expertise in community-driven development as seen in its rural healthcare models, can ensure these efforts are culturally sensitive yet transformative while implementing them in Afghanistan context. Cultural diplomacy offers another avenue. Expanding scholarship programs for Afghan students in technology, medicine and engineering with some reserved seats in India’s central universities can nurture a pro-India constituency among Afghani youth. Hosting cultural festivals celebrating the shared heritage can bridge divides and counter Pakistan’s narrative. Diplomatically, India must maintain consistent high-level dialogues and track-II diplomacy involving Afghan civil society. Advocating for Afghanistan’s inclusion in a revitalized SAARC that can incentivize the Taliban to sustain friendly ties, unlocking broader international opportunities. These efforts, blending economic, humanitarian, and cultural initiatives will solidify India’s role as a reliable partner that delivers tangible benefits while fostering Afghan sovereignty.
Regional Implications and South Asian Alliances
At this critical juncture, India-Afghanistan friendly ties carry profound implications beyond bilateral gains, shaping South Asia’s security, economic, and diplomatic landscape. Strategically, a cooperative Afghanistan acts as a buffer against Pakistani misadventures thereby neutralizing threats and enhancing India’s security, particularly in Kashmir. Economically, Afghanistan’s connectivity to Central Asia via Chabahar strengthens India’s energy security and trade prospects, bypassing Pakistan’s geographic constraints. This access to Central Asian markets for pharmaceuticals, technology, and agriculture bolsters India’s economic leverage, countering China’s BRI dominance. Diplomatically, engaging the Taliban elevates India’s global stature, showcasing its ability to navigate complex regimes while upholding democratic values, strengthening its voice in forums like the UN and Quad. Sociologically, India’s focus on human capital in terms of training doctors, engineers, and teachers fosters Afghan resilience through aligning with the aspirations of its youth and middle class. A gendered perspective underscores the transformative potential of empowering Afghan women through education and economic opportunities to stabilize the society. Regionally, these ties enable India to lead a South Asian bloc that marginalizes Pakistan’s influence, fostering cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, and climate resilience. This partnership is a win-win. For India, it secures a strategic ally, enhances trade routes, and counters terrorism. For Afghanistan, India’s engagement delivers development without domination. Projects like solar-powered schools and telemedicine facilities address immediate needs while fostering modernization. Empowering women enhances social stability, reducing Kabul’s dependence on Pakistan. Additionally, India’s human-centric approach contrasts with China’s debt-heavy model thereby resonating with Afghan aspirations. By integrating Afghanistan into South Asian frameworks, India helps Kabul diversify partnerships by strengthening its sovereignty.
This Afghan engagement must be paired with robust South Asian partnerships, particularly with Bangladesh, which India cannot afford to neglect. Bangladesh’s economic rise, with a 6% annual GDP growth rate and its strategic location make it a linchpin for India’s regional ambitions. Strengthening ties counters China’s BRI influence and ensures a stable eastern flank against Pakistan’s provocations. Deepening connectivity through projects like the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and resolving Teesta water-sharing issues can sustain trust besides revocation of the recent termination of transhipment facility to Bangladesh.Further Joint counter-terrorism efforts are also needed to enhance security. Empowering Bangladesh’s youth and women through renewable energy and digital infrastructure aligns Dhaka with India’s vision. Neglecting Bangladesh risks ceding ground to China thereby exposing India’s eastern borders and undermining its leadership. India must address the concerns of Bangladesh’s current regime, engage positively with Yunus led government to build trust and cooperation.
Needless to argue that the Pakistan-China nexus fortified by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor poses a challenge that India needs to counter strategically.India’s Afghan engagement dilutes Pakistan’s influence, as Kabul balances its relations. By offering sustainable development to Afghanistan, India contrasts with China’s extractive model. Therefore, regionally, India must strengthen ties with Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. In Nepal, hydropower investments and cultural diplomacy counter China’s BRI. Bhutan’s alignment is reinforced through green energy and security cooperation. Sri Lanka’s recovery demands fisheries and renewable energy partnerships to neutralize China’s Hambantota influence. The Maldives offers opportunities for maritime security and climate resilience. Already the change of heart and drift towards india is visible in Maldives today that India should value and work for more.
Last Word
To fully capitalize on its Afghan outreach and secure a commanding position in regional dynamics, India must deepen bilateral ties with all South Asian countries except Pakistan through a tailored, inclusive approach that prioritizes mutual prosperity and strategic alignment. With Bangladesh, India should accelerate economic integration by expanding trade agreements and infrastructure projects while resolving lingering issues and misunderstandings to build trust. Cultural exchanges and scholarships for Bangladeshi youth can strengthen people-to-people ties, countering China’s influence and ensuring Dhaka remains a steadfast ally. This partnership is critical, as Bangladesh’s economic dynamism and strategic location amplify India’s eastern influence, making it an indispensable anchor for a cohesive South Asian bloc. In Sri Lanka, India must build on its mega aid package by investing in renewable energy and port development, ensuring Colombo’s economic recovery aligns with India’s interests rather than China’s Hambantota-centric ambitions. Further engaging with Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Muslim communities through inclusive development projects, India can foster social cohesion and reinforce bilateral ties. The Maldives, with its pro-India shift under the new President offers a strategic opportunity in the Indian Ocean. India should expand maritime security cooperation and climate resilience initiatives, while empowering Maldivian women and youth through education and entrepreneurship programs, cementing Male’s alignment. In Nepal, India must balance hydropower investments with cultural diplomacy, respecting Kathmandu’s sovereignty to counter anti-India sentiments and China’s BRI influence. For Bhutan, deepening cooperation in green energy and security ensures Thimphu remains a reliable partner against Chinese encroachments. These enhanced bilateral relationships, rooted in economic cooperation, cultural affinity, and gendered inclusivity will create a robust South Asian framework that marginalizes Pakistan’s influence and counters China’s expansionism.
Although challenges persist, notably the Taliban’s human rights record, which risks domestic backlash in India. However, a principled pragmatism tying aid to reforms while amplifying Afghan women and minorities can mitigate this. By blending hard power like security and economic aid with soft power like cultural diplomacy, India can transform its Afghan outreach into a calculated masterstroke, fostering a pro-India Afghanistan and a united, resilient South Asia that thrives under its leadership.