India-Afghanistan Relations: Development and Strategic Concerns

TOPIC CLASSIFICATION

Subject: International Relations - Neighbourhood Policy - Bilateral Relations
Sub-topic: India-Afghanistan Relations - Historical Ties (1950 Treaty of Friendship, Cultural Links), India's Development Assistance ($3B+ since 2001 - Largest Regional Donor), Infrastructure Projects (Salma Dam, Afghan Parliament, Zaranj-Delaram Highway, Stor Palace Restoration), Trade and Connectivity (Chabahar Port, Air Corridor, Afghanistan-India trade), Post-2021 Taliban Takeover (Evacuation, Humanitarian Aid, India's Taliban Diplomacy - Technical Team in Kabul), Security Concerns (Pakistan's use of Afghan soil, terrorism - Haqqani Network, ISIS-K, LeT), Strategic Competition with Pakistan in Afghanistan, India's Afghanistan Policy - 'Pro-Afghan' (Engaging with Taliban government but not recognising it), UN and Multilateral Fora (India's role in UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan - UNAMA).
Mains GS Paper-II: International Relations - India's neighbourhood policy - Afghanistan's stability and its impact on India's security - development diplomacy.

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EXAMINER REASONING

Afghanistan has been central to India's security concerns and development diplomacy for decades. Prelims tests: Salma Dam (Chist-e-Sharif), Afghan Parliament (New Delhi), Zaranj-Delaram Highway (219 km), Chabahar Port (Iran), India's $3B+ aid, Air Corridor (2020), Taliban takeover (August 2021), Pakistan's role, Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Operation Devi Shakti (2021 evacuation). Mains demands: (a) development partnership - India has invested $3B+...