India's Decision to Host the Taliban
India's decision to ramp up ties with Afghanistan and host the Taliban's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, can be seen as a strategic move.
Delhi aims to secure a seat at Kabul's geopolitical table to counter Pakistan's influence and safeguard regional interests.
After the US' withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, India's investment and humanitarian legacy in Kabul became vulnerable, ceding space to Pakistan and China.
- India seeks to reclaim strategic space in the region.
- Pakistan has long strived to exercise control over Afghanistan.
- China is expanding its presence through the Belt and Road Initiative and mineral investments.
India's decision to host the Taliban may make sense as a strategic decision, but it must not come at the cost of accepting the group's misogyny.
Author's summary: India balances strategic interests with moral concerns.