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History of India-Afghanistan Relations

India and Afghanistan | PSIR Optional for UPSC (Notes)

Historical Contacts Between India and Afghanistan

  • Contact between the people of present-day India and Afghanistan dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
  • Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's successors, controlled most of Afghanistan before ceding much of it to the Mauryan Empire in 305 BC as part of an alliance treaty.

Medieval Invasions and Migrations

  • From the 10th century to the mid-18th century, several invaders such as the Ghaznavids,Ghurids,Khaljis,Suris,Mughals, and Durranis invaded northern India from what is now Afghanistan.
  • During periods of instability, especially during the Mughal era (1526–1858), many Afghans migrated to India.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Indian Independence Movement

  • Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement and a supporter of the Indian National Congress.
  • Despite the North-West Frontier Province(NWFP) becoming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, Pashtun support for the Indian freedom struggle fostered sympathy in India for Pashtun autonomy.
  • The Indian government supported Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in advocating for greater Pashtun freedom in the NWFP.

Post-Independence Relations

  • India was the only South Asian country to recognize the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s.
  • Relations diminished during the 1990s Afghan civil war and the Taliban government.
  • India played a significant role in the overthrow of the Taliban and became the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan.
  • Indian workers are involved in various construction projects as part of India’s rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.

Indo-Afghan Political Relations 

During Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, India supported the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan by providing intelligence and logistics. After the Taliban's fall, India established diplomatic relations with the new government and contributed to relief and reconstruction efforts.

  • India is now the fifth-largest provider of development assistance to Afghanistan, having committed around $650–750 million in humanitarian and economic aid since 2001. This makes India the largest regional provider of aid.
  • India's support includes rebuilding air links, power plants, and investing in health and education sectors. India also helps train Afghan civil servants, diplomats, and police.
  • In 2005, India proposed Afghanistan's membership in SAARC. Various memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed to strengthen cooperation in rural development, education, and standardization.
  • India raised its aid package to Afghanistan in 2006 and the country became the eighth member of SAARC in 2007.
  • In 2011, India and Afghanistan signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement to assist in rebuilding Afghanistan’s infrastructure, institutions, and education, and to encourage investment in Afghanistan’s natural resources.
  • In December 2015, India donated attack helicopters to Afghanistan as part of the bilateral strategic partnership to counter the Taliban insurgency. Indian PM Narendra Modi also inaugurated the newly constructed Afghan parliament in Kabul.
  • On August 15, 2019, PM Modi extended greetings to Afghanistan on its 100th Independence Day, highlighting the strong friendship between the two nations.

Question for India and Afghanistan
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Which country is the largest regional provider of humanitarian and economic aid to Afghanistan since 2001?
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Economic Relations between India and Afghanistan

India's Economic Expansion in Afghanistan

  • India aims to strengthen its economic presence in Afghanistan as international forces withdraw, focusing on transport connectivity and economic collaboration with Central and South Asia.
  • As of 2012, India had already invested $10.8 billion in various projects in Afghanistan, with plans for more after the NATO withdrawal.

Key Projects

  • Iron Ore Mines: Development of iron ore mines.
  • Steel Plant: A 6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) steel plant by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
  • Power Plants: An 800 MW power plant and hydroelectric power projects.
  • Infrastructure: Construction of transmission lines and roads.
  • Salma Dam: India helped reconstruct the Salma Dam, now known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, which produces 42 MW of power and irrigates 75,000 hectares of farmland.

Salma Dam Details

  • The Salma Dam, located on the Hari River in Herat Province, was renamed to strengthen Indo-Afghan relations.
  • It stabilizes irrigation for 35,000 hectares and develops facilities for an additional 40,000 hectares.

India-Iran Transit Agreement

  • India and Iran are set to sign a transit agreement to transport goods to landlocked Afghanistan.
  • The Indian government is investing over US$100 million in expanding the Chabahar port in Iran, which will serve as a hub for transit goods, facilitating imports and exports for Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India-Afghanistan Air-Freight Corridor

  • Inaugurated in 2017, the Air-Freight Corridor has facilitated goods worth over USD 216 million, benefiting Afghan exports to India.
  • The aim is to expand the Corridor to other cities, further enhancing trade and cooperation.

Indian Diaspora in Afghanistan

Indian Presence in Afghanistan (August 2020)

  • Approximately 1710 Indians are estimated to be living in Afghanistan.
  • Most Indians are working as professionals in various sectors, including:
  • Banks
  • IT firms
  • Construction companies
  • Hospitals
  • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • Telecom companies
  • Security companies
  • Universities
  • Government of India sponsored projects
  • Government of Afghanistan
  • United Nations (UN) Missions
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FAQs on India and Afghanistan - PSIR Optional for UPSC (Notes)

1. भारत और अफगानिस्तान के बीच ऐतिहासिक संबंधों का मुख्य कारण क्या है?
Ans. भारत और अफगानिस्तान के बीच ऐतिहासिक संबंधों का मुख्य कारण सांस्कृतिक, आर्थिक और राजनीतिक संबंध हैं। दोनों देश प्राचीन समय से व्यापारिक मार्गों पर स्थित रहे हैं, जिससे इनका आपसी संपर्क और सहयोग बढ़ा।
2. भारत और अफगानिस्तान के राजनीतिक संबंधों में किस प्रकार के उतार-चढ़ाव आए हैं?
Ans. भारत और अफगानिस्तान के राजनीतिक संबंधों में कई उतार-चढ़ाव आए हैं। 1970 के दशक में सोवियत संघ के हस्तक्षेप के बाद, भारत ने अफगानिस्तान के प्रति समर्थन बढ़ाया। हालाँकि, तालिबान के उदय के बाद से संबंधों में जटिलता आई, लेकिन भारत ने फिर भी अफगानिस्तान के लोकतांत्रिक विकास का समर्थन जारी रखा।
3. भारत ने अफगानिस्तान के विकास में कौन से महत्वपूर्ण आर्थिक सहयोग प्रदान किए हैं?
Ans. भारत ने अफगानिस्तान के विकास के लिए कई महत्वपूर्ण आर्थिक सहयोग प्रदान किए हैं, जैसे कि सड़कें, स्कूल, अस्पताल, और जल परियोजनाएँ। भारत ने अफगानिस्तान में 3 बिलियन डॉलर से अधिक का विकास सहयोग दिया है, जिससे बुनियादी ढांचे और सामाजिक विकास में मदद मिली है।
4. अफगानिस्तान में भारत की भूमिका किस प्रकार की है?
Ans. अफगानिस्तान में भारत की भूमिका विकासात्मक और मानवीय है। भारत ने अफगानिस्तान में शांति और स्थिरता के लिए विभिन्न योजनाएँ शुरू की हैं, और अफगानिस्तान के राजनीतिक और आर्थिक विकास में सहायक बनता रहा है।
5. भारत और अफगानिस्तान के बीच व्यापारिक संबंध किस प्रकार विकसित हुए हैं?
Ans. भारत और अफगानिस्तान के बीच व्यापारिक संबंध धीरे-धीरे विकसित हुए हैं, खासकर भारत द्वारा अफगानिस्तान के लिए वस्त्र, खाद्य सामग्री, और औद्योगिक उत्पादों का निर्यात बढ़ाने के साथ। इसके अलावा, भारत ने अफगानिस्तान के लिए चाबहार बंदरगाह के माध्यम से व्यापारिक मार्गों की सुविधा भी प्रदान की है।
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