30th July 2019 The Hindu Editorials Mains Notes Sure Shot 

30th July 2019 The Hindu Editorials Mains Sure Shot 

by Gumnaam Baba

GS-2 Mains 

 

Note- we are covering all important aspects (Becz afgan now become Hot topic for UPSC exam) so that this time editorials little bit long boss. 

 

Question- Analyse the India-Afghan relations and its various aspects. (250 Words)

Context- US trying to pull out of Afghanistan.

 

• An overview of India-Afghanistan relations are as follows:

 

1. Historical ties:

 

• India-Afghan relations are not only shaped by bilateral agreements between both the countries but also strong historical and cultural linkages.
• The historical links go back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. The people of the Indus Valley had extensive trade with the region.
• Following Alexanders occupation of the area corresponding to present day Afghanistan, even the Mauryan empire had an influence over the area.
• From 8th century onwards there were many Arab scholars like Al-beruni who came to India through the north-west. From 10th century to the mid-18th century, India was invaded numerous times by invaders through Afghanistan like the Ghaznavids and the Mughals.
• During these years Afghans began migrating to India from both trade and political reasons, and Abdul Ghaffar Khan of Afghanistan was a prominent leader of Indian independence movement.

 

2. India’s strategic interests in Afghanistan:

 

• In keeping Afghanistan as a friendly state, India can monitor and also assert some influence on Pakistan.
• But India’s interests in Afghanistan are more than mere Pakistan-centric, it goes with India’s aspirations to be a dominant regional power.
• A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in favour of India because containing the militant groups like Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, al-Qaeda based in Afghanistan are important for India’s security.

 

3. Diplomatic relations:

 

• India was the only South Asian country to recognise the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in 1980s.
• During 1990s Afghan civil war, India aided the overthrow of Taliban.
• India also advocated Afghanistan’s membership of SAARC in 2005.
• We also signed an agreement on strategic partnership in 2011. It called for closer political ties between the two countries and also on regional and international issues.
• In 2015, when Afghanistan was going through major political, economic and strategic transitions, India assured Afghanistan of its long-term support towards its reconstruction and rehabilitation.
• Afghanistan also supported India in 2016 on India’s boycott of the SAARC summit hosted by Pakistan.
• Since 2001, India has also led many development projects in Afghanistan and other forms of humanitarian assistance.

 

4. Economic relations:

 

• India is one of the largest markets in the region for Afghan products.
• The inauguration of a Dedicated Air Cargo Corridor in June 2017 between Kabul-Delhi, the bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan is expected to more than double by 2020. At present India’s trade with Afghanistan is approximately $ 900 million.
• Afghanistan is also expected to make changes in its existing rules for mineral sector in the country, which will further boost bilateral trade with India.
• There are many prominent Indian companies doing business in Afghanistan like Phoenix, APTECH etc.
• India has remained Afghanistan’s biggest regional donor, providing about $ 3 billion assistance since 2001.

 

5. People to people ties:

 

• There has been strong people to people link between the two countries shaped by history, culture and mutual trust.
• At present there are about 25000 Indians in Afghanistan.
• India provides medicines and healthcare to Afghanistan and they are highly rated. Many Afghans come to India on medical and tourist visas.
• There are more than 12000 Afghan students pursuing education in Indian universities.
• India also provides scholarships for the children of the martyrs of Afghan Security Forces.
• Indian TV serials and movies are very popular among the Afghans.

 

6. Development Assistance:

 

• India has constructed Afghan-India friendship dam (earlier called Salma Dam).
• India has helped build the Delaram-Zaranj highway connecting the Delaram district in Afghanistan to the border of Iran.
• As a goodwill gesture, India also constructed new Parliament building in Afghanistan.
• In 2014 we helped establish an agricultural university in Kandahar.
• India also constructed many primary and secondary education and healthcare facilities in Afghanistan.
• India is also running several capacity building programmes for Afghan civil servants and Afghan National Security Forces.
• India has agreed to implement new projects like Shahtoot Dam, roads and other low-cost housing for resettling Afghan refugees.

 

7. Challenges in Indo-Afghan relations-

 

1. Lack of geographical contiguity and limited access since Afghanistan is a land locked country and Pakistan lies in between.
2. Pakistan’s continuous interference in Afghan affairs through proxies like Haqqani network.
3. Growing terrorism in Afghanistan.
4. The Golden Crescent of which Afghanistan is a part is the most extensive opium producing belt and drugs are supplied from Afghanistan to Punjab is a matter of big concern due to increased demand among youth.
5. In 2011 Afghanistan and Pakistan signed Afghanistan Pakistan Trade Transit Agreement (APTTA) which has been restrictive in bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan.
6. Also there is growing Chinese influence in Afghanistan.
7. Half of the country is directly or indirectly controlled by Taliban. In eastern part the IS has established its presence. The government is weak and is ridden with corruption and is unable to fulfil the basic rights of the citizens.

 

Way forward:

 

1. Keeping in mind the U.S. shift in policy towards Afghanistan and its decision to pull out its troops from the country, India must keep a close watch to ensure that stability is maintained because any instability could be a major security threat.
2. India enjoys a goodwill among Afghan people. It should try to maintain that as a base of its soft power.
3. It should continue its developmental assistance.
4. India should see to the proper implementation of the trilateral agreement between Iran, Afghanistan and India concerning the Chahbahar port to improve connectivity. And,
5. Our Afghan policy should also be made keeping into account our energy security and the TAPI pipeline.

 

 

Note for Other Articles:( 30th July 2019)

 

• A straightforward lesson on resolution- is about question of third party involvement in Kashmir. we have already covered this.
• In governance mode- is political
• In Assam, basic dignity at stake- NRC already covered twice.
• Trump and Johnson: two peas in a pod – is political.
• Not a ‘right’ agenda- is political. and,
• No detente on the horizon- is on Iran-US relation and has been covered twice.