The Complex Cultural Ties Between Afghanistan And India: A Historical Perspective

Afghanistan and India have a long history of cultural and ethnic links. Afghanistan was historically part of the Indian subcontinent, and the two countries have shared religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. There has been significant migration between the two countries, with Afghans migrating to India as early as the 13th century, and Indians in Afghanistan as early as the 19th century.

In modern times, India has been one of the largest donors to Afghanistan, investing in the economy, humanitarian aid, education, development, construction, and electrical. India has also been a key supporter of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance and has provided significant aid to the country following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

Afghanistan and India have shared close cultural and political ties for centuries

Afghanistan and India have been historical neighbours since India was under colonial rule. They have shared cultural ties through Bollywood and cricket. Afghanistan was considered one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of Vedic India in the Vedic Age. The two countries have also been part of several regional level partnerships, like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

India has played a significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. India has committed over $3 billion for development efforts in Afghanistan. India has financed and built significant projects such as the Delaram Zaranj Highway, the Afghan Parliament Building, the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, transmission lines to Kabul, and more. India has also provided military assistance to Afghanistan by delivering three Russia-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016.

India has also provided humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan. India has been the largest regional donor to Afghanistan, providing over $3 billion in assistance. India has built over 200 public and private schools, sponsored over 1,000 scholarships, and hosted over 16,0000 Afghan students. India has also provided COVID-19 vaccines and food grains to Afghanistan.

India was among the first non-Communist states to recognise the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan

India was one of the first non-communist states to recognise the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan. In January 1980, the new Indian government of Indira Gandhi broke ranks with the rest of the non-communist world by virtually endorsing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and denouncing those "outside powers" that had backed "subversive elements" in the country.

The Indian representative to the UN General Assembly's emergency special session, Brajesh Mishra, stated that India could not "look with equanimity at the attempt by some outside powers to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan by training, arming and encouraging subversive elements to create a disturbance inside Afghanistan." Mishra also expressed that India had no reason to doubt assurances from the Soviet Union that they would withdraw their troops when requested to do so by the Afghan government.

However, this stance represented a departure in policy not only for India but also for Prime Minister Gandhi herself, who had criticised the Soviet move during her election campaign. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had prompted the UN Security Council to attempt to condemn the action, but this was vetoed by the Soviet Union.

The Indian government's support for the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan was influenced by its concerns about the building of bases, the pumping of arms to small and medium countries, and the potential interference of outside powers such as the US and China in the region. India's position also reflected its security interests and its desire to maintain unity within the non-aligned movement.

India has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Afghanistan's reconstruction and development

India has been a key supporter of Afghanistan's development and has committed billions of dollars in aid since the Taliban was overthrown in 2001.

India has provided over $3 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and is the biggest regional donor to the country, as well as the fifth largest donor globally.

India has been involved in over 400 projects across 34 provinces in Afghanistan, including the building of schools, hospitals, roads, dams, electricity transmission lines, substations, solar panels, and government buildings.

Some of the major infrastructure projects India has helped to build include:

• The Salma Dam (also known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam)
• The Zaranj-Delaram Highway
• The Afghan Parliament building
• The Stor Palace in Kabul
• The Indira Gandhi Institute for Child Health/Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital in Kabul
• The Shahtoot Dam, which will provide drinking water to 2 million residents of Kabul
• The Pul-e-Khumri transmission line
• The Afghan National Agriculture Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU) in Kandahar
• The Chimtala power substation in Kabul
• A cricket stadium in Kandahar
• A cold storage warehouse in Kandahar

India has also provided aid in the form of medical supplies, food, and scholarships for Afghan students.

In addition to its aid efforts, India has been a key supporter of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance and has helped to train Afghan civil servants, diplomats, and police.

Afghanistan is a gateway to energy-rich Central Asian states such as Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan

Afghanistan's role as an energy gateway is exemplified by the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and the Central Asia South Asia (CASA-1000) electricity transmission project. TAPI is a 1,800-kilometer-long pipeline that will export 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. CASA-1000, on the other hand, will transmit 300 MW of electricity to Afghanistan and 1,000 MW to Pakistan during the summer months.

The successful implementation of these projects will enhance regional cooperation, mutual understanding, and economic prosperity. However, the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the country's role as a conduit for drug trafficking to Central Asia, Russia, and Western Europe have raised concerns among its Central Asian neighbors. To address these challenges, regional countries should focus on strengthening their institutions, eradicating corruption, stabilizing democracy, and encouraging foreign investment. Additionally, resolving water and border disputes among Central Asian countries is crucial for enhancing mutual trust and cooperation.

Furthermore, the Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000), which includes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, is another initiative that aims to connect Central and South Asia through energy. Afghanistan's geostrategic location and participation in regional forums, such as the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process and the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA), have played a vital role in fostering closer relationships with Central Asian countries.

Moreover, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative, offers strategic opportunities for Central Asian states to access regional markets and transport their goods more efficiently. CPEC provides Central Asian countries with better access to markets in Pakistan, China, India, and West Asia.

In conclusion, Afghanistan's geostrategic position, energy resources, and participation in regional initiatives make it a crucial gateway connecting energy-rich Central Asian states, such as Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, to South Asia and beyond.

India has helped rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, power stations, and stadiums

India has played a significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. Over the last two decades, India has invested more than $3 billion in Afghanistan, including investments in over 400 infrastructure projects across all provinces in the country.

One of the key India-funded projects in Afghanistan is the Salma Dam, also known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam. The hydropower and irrigation project, completed in 2016, is considered one of the largest dams in Afghanistan. It provides irrigation water and electricity to hundreds of thousands of families in the Herat province.

Another flagship Indian project in Afghanistan is the Zaranj-Delaram highway, a 218-kilometre path built near the Afghanistan-Iran border. The highway is strategically important as it provides India with alternative access to landlocked Afghanistan from Iran's Chabahar port. It connects the border town of Zaranj with the city of Delaram and links to a ring road that connects the country's major cities.

India has also helped rebuild Afghanistan's power infrastructure. This includes the 220kV DC transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, to Kabul, which has helped increase the electricity supply to the Afghan capital. India has also restored telecommunications infrastructure in many provinces.

In the healthcare sector, India has reconstructed the Indira Gandhi Institute for Child Health in Kabul, which is considered the largest paediatric hospital in Afghanistan. India had initially built the hospital in 1972, and it was later damaged during the war. India has also built clinics in several border provinces, including Badakhshan, Balkh, Kandahar, and Khost, among others.

In terms of educational infrastructure, India built Afghanistan's Parliament in Kabul, which was inaugurated in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The large complex, spread across 100 acres of land, is a symbol of India's tribute to democracy in Afghanistan.

Additionally, India has contributed to the restoration of the Stor Palace in Kabul, originally built in the late 19th century. The palace was inaugurated in 2016 and served as the setting for the 1919 Rawalpindi Agreement, which led to Afghanistan's independence.

India's assistance in rebuilding Afghanistan's infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, power stations, and stadiums, has been a significant aspect of its strategic partnership with the country. These projects have contributed to the social, economic, and infrastructure development of Afghanistan.

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