The Unspoken Alliance: India's Quiet Military Presence In Afghanistan

India has no military presence in Afghanistan and has ruled out sending troops to the country. Instead, India has committed to providing economic and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, investing in the economy, humanitarian efforts, education, development, construction, and electrical. India has also provided training to the Afghan army and police. However, the Indian government has faced continuous security threats in Afghanistan, with Indian civilians and diplomatic buildings being targeted by numerous deadly terrorist attacks.

India's reluctance to send troops to Afghanistan

India has been reluctant to send troops to Afghanistan due to a variety of strategic, logistical, and historical reasons. Here are several factors that contribute to India's reluctance:

Strategic Concerns

India's primary strategic concern regarding troop deployment in Afghanistan is the potential backlash from Islamist militant groups, particularly those backed by Pakistan. India fears that its troops would become prime targets for these groups, such as the Haqqani Network and the Taliban. This concern is heightened by the history of attacks on Indian civilians and diplomatic buildings in Afghanistan by Pakistan-based terrorist groups.

Logistical Challenges

India also faces logistical challenges in deploying troops to Afghanistan. Providing logistical support to an Indian garrison in Afghanistan would be difficult, as the only viable route is through Iran's Chabahar port, which may not be reliable due to rising tensions between Iran and the United States. India's military capabilities are currently focused on counter-insurgency efforts and may not be sufficient to support a sustained deployment in Afghanistan.

Historical Precedent

India's disastrous intervention in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s serves as a cautionary tale for the Indian government. That experience demonstrated the challenges of engaging in counter-insurgency missions in a foreign country and the potential for missions to snowball, requiring additional troop deployments.

Alternative Approaches

Instead of sending troops, India has pursued a "soft power" approach, focusing on economic and humanitarian aid, development, and capacity-building efforts in Afghanistan. India is the largest regional donor to Afghanistan, having provided over $3 billion in assistance. This approach has earned India goodwill among the Afghan people and leadership. India has also provided training and military equipment to Afghanistan, although on a small scale.

Regional Dynamics

India's reluctance to send troops is also influenced by the presence of other regional powers, such as Pakistan, China, Russia, and the United States. India's approach has been to cultivate diplomatic and strategic ties with the Afghan government while avoiding direct military involvement. India has supported the democratically elected governments in Afghanistan and worked with other countries to push for a political settlement.

India's soft power approach to Afghanistan

India has historically chosen not to deploy troops to Afghanistan, instead opting for a soft power approach to influence the country's outcome. This strategy has been a test of its diplomatic manoeuvring, with India seeking to promote a democratic setup, provide developmental assistance, and increase people-to-people contact.

India's soft power approach in Afghanistan has been paramount, winning the 'hearts and minds' of the Afghan people. India has provided humanitarian and developmental assistance, including in the fields of education, medical services, transport, telecommunications, agriculture, irrigation, power generation, industry, and rural development. It has also enhanced people-to-people contact by providing liberal scholarships for higher education in Indian universities.

India's soft power influence in Afghanistan is based on its resources, culture, political values, and foreign policies. India has used its soft power to strengthen its cultural and political relations with Afghanistan, with the idea of nation-building and political stability. This has included winning the 'hearts and minds' of the Afghan people and building trust and support in the nation.

India's soft power approach in Afghanistan has been very effective, and the Indian government doesn't need to have direct military involvement in the country. There are three reasons for these conclusions: historic India-Afghanistan links, a feeling of kinship due to Bollywood's popularity, and India's support to rebuild Afghanistan.

Firstly, the historic links form the bedrock of friendly relations. Afghan vice-president Mohammad Sarwar Danish highlighted this during the 70th Indian Independence Day celebrations, saying, "Afghanistan and India have 1,000 years of historic relations... As a result, both countries' history is nested together and cannot be divided." According to a study, there are countless Afghan-related monuments and historic and cultural items across India, and more than a dozen sites in Afghanistan with Indian artwork.

Secondly, India's film industry, Bollywood, has nurtured a feeling of friendship among Afghans. Bollywood films allow Afghans to engross themselves in fantasies and enjoy the extravagant lifestyles portrayed. These films often portray Afghans and Pashtuns as the 'good guys', colouring the perception of Afghans in India. Additionally, many Bollywood films have been shot in Afghanistan, further increasing the popularity of Indian cinema in the nation.

Thirdly, India's support to rebuild Afghanistan has been vital due to its soft power and influence on the population. India is the largest regional donor to Afghanistan, having provided over $3 billion. Some prominent projects backed by India include the new parliament building, the Salma Dam in Herat province, and a highway to Iran's Chabahar port. Chabahar is of immense importance to Afghanistan as it provides access to the oceans and reduces dependence on Pakistan.

In conclusion, India's soft power approach in Afghanistan has been a key aspect of its foreign policy towards the country. By focusing on civilian issues rather than military matters, India has gained wide currency and deep appreciation at both the official level and among the local populace. However, there are challenges ahead, especially given the perennial animosity between India and Pakistan, which risks affecting India's influence in Afghanistan.

India's financial and material aid to Afghanistan

India has provided a significant amount of financial and material aid to Afghanistan. Here is a breakdown of India's assistance:

Financial Aid

• India has provided around around $3 billion in financial aid and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, making it the biggest regional donor and the fifth-largest donor globally.
• Between April 1, 2016, and March 27, 2017, India provided development aid of Rs 221 crore to Afghanistan.
• In the 2023-24 Union Budget, India announced a development aid of $25 million for Afghanistan.
• India has committed around $3 billion towards rebuilding and reconstructing Afghanistan since 2002.
• In May 2011, India pledged $500 million to Afghanistan in addition to its existing commitment of $1.5 billion.
• In May 2011, India's pledge to rebuild Afghanistan reached a total of $2 billion.
• India has provided $650-750 million in humanitarian and economic aid to Afghanistan.
• In February 2023, India announced development aid of Rs 200 crores to Afghanistan.

Material Aid

• India has been involved in over 400 projects across 34 provinces in Afghanistan.
• India has aided in the construction of Afghanistan's Parliament, the Salma Dam (also known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam), schools, hospitals, power stations, and stadiums.
• India has provided material support such as shipments of wheat, pulses, and medicines.
• India has sent COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan as part of humanitarian aid.
• India has sent emergency relief assistance to Afghanistan following earthquakes, including 27 tonnes of relief supplies in 2022.
• India has provided training to the Afghan army and police.
• India has granted scholarships to Afghan students and sponsored their education in India.
• India has helped in the reconstruction of roads, dams, electricity transmission lines, solar panels, and other infrastructure projects.
• India has provided assistance in strengthening institutions and human resource development in Afghanistan.

India's civilian-centric policies in Afghanistan

India has consistently refused to send troops to Afghanistan, instead choosing to focus on civilian-centric policies and economic and humanitarian aid.

India has been one of Afghanistan's most important allies, with strong historical and cultural ties. India is the biggest regional donor to Afghanistan and the fifth-largest donor globally, having provided over $3 billion in assistance. India has built over 200 public and private schools, sponsors over 1,000 scholarships, and hosts over 16,000 Afghan students.

• Economic and humanitarian aid: India has committed over $3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan. This includes infrastructure projects like the construction of Afghanistan's Parliament, the Salma Dam, schools, hospitals, power stations, and stadiums, as well as material and financial support like shipments of wheat and pulses, and medicines.
• Education: India has provided scholarships to over 1,000 Afghan students annually and has built over 200 public and private schools in Afghanistan. India also aims to promote integrated rural development by introducing solar electrification and rainwater harvesting technologies.
• Health: India established field clinics and a children's hospital in Afghanistan as part of its humanitarian mission. It also ran a programme providing midday meals to about 2 million Afghan school children.
• Transportation: India has played a significant role in constructing roads and improving Afghanistan's connectivity with strategic ports, thereby reducing Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan. India has also been developing the Chabahar port in Iran, which will serve as a hub for the transportation of transit goods to landlocked Afghanistan.
• Institutional development: India has provided training to Afghan civil servants, diplomats, and police, and has helped strengthen institutions and human resource development in Afghanistan.
• Security: India has provided military equipment, such as attack helicopters, and training to Afghan security personnel.

India's diplomatic ties with Afghanistan

India and Afghanistan have historically been neighbours and share cultural ties. In January 1950, the two countries signed a five-year Treaty of Friendship, affirming "everlasting peace and friendship".

India has no military presence in Afghanistan and has repeatedly ruled out sending troops to the country. However, it has been one of the largest donors to Afghanistan, investing in the economy, humanitarian aid, education, development, construction and electrical. India has also been involved in rebuilding and humanitarian assistance efforts, including the construction of roads, dams, schools, hospitals, power stations, and stadiums. It has provided scholarships to more than 1,000 Afghan students per year and has trained Afghan security forces.

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