Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Tuesday to discuss the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
The meeting was attended by India’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Rudendra Tandon, who was evacuated from Kabul in an emergency operation. In addition, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla also took part in the discussions.
PM Modi said, “India must not only protect our citizens, but also provide refuge to Sikh and Hindu minorities who want to come to India, and possible help to our Afghan brothers and sisters who are looking towards India for assistance.” He added that India intends to provide all forms of assistance to the Afghan people.
According to official sources cited by the Indian Express, the Indian government will continue to assess the situation in Afghanistan and not be “the first or the last country in recognising the new framework” in the country. In this regard, India will engage with other democratic nations.
The recent developments in Afghanistan were particularly concerning as India was a strong supporter of the elected governments of the country, both during the Karzai and the Ghani administrations. Moreover, India has invested around $2 billion in Afghanistan for aid and redevelopment. Therefore, India might be forced to engage with the Taliban to protect its interests in the country.
A significant factor that drives India’s increasing interest in Afghanistan is the fear arising from China’s growing activity in the region, which had been relatively minimal until recently. Until 2016, China merely provided $2.2 million in aid to the country compared to India, which was Afghanistan’s biggest donor in South Asia. However, while the initial plan for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) excluded Afghanistan, after 2016, this, too, started to change. China and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and consequently, China promised Afghanistan around $100 million in funds. By 2019, China emerged as Afghanistan’s biggest investor for business.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, addressing the press, said China was ready to facilitate “friendly and cooperative” relations with Afghanistan, even with the Taliban in charge. Chinese intentions could compel the Indian government to reconsider its stance on the Taliban to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
Indian PM Modi Holds Cabinet Meeting on Afghanistan
Indian Prime Minister Modi held a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security and discussed the need to protect Indian citizens in Afghanistan and the religious minorities in the country.
August 18, 2021
SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES