Indo-Afghan Bilateral Relations - 1 - UPSC PDF Download

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Recent Updates on India-Afghanistan Relations
3.  Historical Overview of India-Afghanistan Relations
4.  India-Afghanistan Relations: Overview
5. India-Afghanistan Relations
6. Recent Developments
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Introduction

The relationship between India and Afghanistan dates back to ancient times, during the era of the Indus Valley Civilization. However, it was only after India gained independence that a formal relationship was established between the two countries. Formal diplomatic ties were established with the Treaty of Friendship signed on January 4, 1950, between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Afghanistan, laying the foundation for enduring bilateral relations. This treaty marked the beginning of a strong and enduring relationship between India and Afghanistan, grounded in their shared historical and cultural connections.

Recent Updates on India-Afghanistan Relations

• Humanitarian Aid: On October 18, 2023, the Indian Foreign Secretary initiated a convoy of wheat as humanitarian aid for Afghanistan at the India-Pakistan integrated check post. This aid is part of the 50,000 MT of wheat promised by the Indian government to assist the Afghan people. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan will receive this wheat. 
• Public Sentiment:. recent survey revealed that 69% of Afghan people consider India as Afghanistan's 'best friend.' This reflects the positive perception and strong ties between the two nations. 
• Development Projects: The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has urged India to resume and complete the development projects that were initiated by India before. India has not fully reopened its embassy in Kabul but has maintained a technical team there since 2022 to oversee humanitarian aid. In October 2025, India announced plans to upgrade this mission to a full embassy following high-level talks between EAM S. Jaishankar and Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi. 

 Historical Overview of India-Afghanistan Relations 

• The ties between the people of Afghanistan and India first began with the Indus Valley Civilization, marking the foundation of India-Afghanistan Relations.
• After Alexander's Invasion, Afghanistan came under the rule of the successor state of the Seleucid Empire.
• Before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, much of Afghanistan was influenced by Buddhist, Hindu, and Zoroastrian civilizations brought from India by the Mauryans, who also dominated the region south of the Hindu Kush. Although many Afghans converted to Islam, Muslims and Hindus coexisted in Afghanistan during this period.

 Colonial Phase:

• Two Anglo-Afghan Wars were fought between British India and Afghanistan in 1839-1842 and 1878-1880.
• A boundary line known as the Durand Line was established between Afghan and British territories. However, the Durand Agreement (1893) failed to maintain peace, leading to tribal uprisings that lasted until 1898.
• Viceroy Curzon adopted a strategy of seclusion and focus, replacing British troops with tribal forces trained and led by British officers.
• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a Pashtun leader from the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan), supported the Indian National Congress and symbolized Indo-Pashtun unity during the freedom struggle.

 Post-Independence Phase:

• In 1950, the Treaty of Friendship was signed between India and Afghanistan to establish diplomatic ties and deepen relations.
• Diplomatic relations between India and Afghanistan strengthened during the 1950s and 1960s.
• After the 1979 Soviet intervention, India did not condemn the Soviet presence but maintained diplomatic ties with the Kabul government, reflecting its independent foreign policy stance during the Cold War.
• Until the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s, India supported successive regimes in Afghanistan.
• India did not recognize the Taliban's rise to power in 1996, a stance shared by most other nations.
• Relations between India and Afghanistan improved significantly after the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

 India-Afghanistan Relations: Overview 

• Official Name: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
• Capital City: Kabul
• Prime Minister: Hasan Akhund
• Currency: Afghani
• Type of Government: Unitary theocratic emirate under Taliban control (not internationally recognized by India)
• Neighbouring Countries: Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. (Afghanistan and India do not share an active land border; historically, the Wakhan Corridor region connected the two before 1947.)

India-Afghanistan Relations 

 Political Relations:

• 2001: During Operation Enduring Freedom, India provided information and logistical support to the Allied forces. Following the overthrow of the Taliban, India established diplomatic relations with the new civilian government and participated in relief and rehabilitation efforts in Afghanistan.
• 2005: India advocated for Afghanistan's membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), demonstrating its support for Afghanistan's regional integration.
• 2006: During President Hamid Karzai's visit to India in April, three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Afghan National Standardisation Authority. These agreements focused on rural development, education, and standardisation, reflecting India's commitment to Afghanistan's development.
• 2011: India and Afghanistan signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement aimed at strengthening ties through the rebuilding of Afghanistan's infrastructure and institutions, education, and technical assistance. This agreement marked a significant step in bilateral relations.
• 2015: In December, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kabul to inaugurate the newly constructed Afghan parliament (National Assembly), built by India at a cost of $90 million. This project symbolised India's commitment to supporting Afghanistan's democratic institutions.
• 2016: India gifted four Mi-25 Attack helicopters to the Afghan Air Force, marking a new chapter in India-Afghanistan relations by enhancing Afghanistan's security capabilities. 
• 2019: In August, Prime Minister Modi extended wishes to Afghanistan on the 100th anniversary of its independence, further strengthening the bond between the two nations.

Recent Developments

• First Ministerial-Level Engagement Since 1999: In 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held an in-person meeting with Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi - the first ministerial-level contact since 1999.

• Resumption of Practical Dialogue: In early 2025, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Muttaqi in the UAE to discuss humanitarian aid, trade connectivity through Iran's Chabahar Port, and regional security. This marks a shift from purely humanitarian contact to structured discussions.

• Visa Policy Normalisation: India resumed issuing multiple visa categories to Afghan nationals after a four-year pause. Afghan traders have restarted exports (dry fruits, medicinal herbs) via the Attari-Wagah route.

• Economic Cooperation Prospects: The Taliban expressed interest in reviving India-funded infrastructure and exploring Indian investment in Afghanistan's mining, energy, and connectivity sectors. Indian companies have begun feasibility studies for select projects.

• Continued Humanitarian Assistance
  India continues to allocate significant resources in the 2025-26 budget for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, including food aid, essential medicines, and scholarships for Afghan students.

• Diplomatic Expansion by Taliban: The Taliban now operate or cooperate with 23 foreign diplomatic missions, enhancing their global engagement despite lack of formal recognition by India and most countries.

• Human Rights Concerns Persist: Girls and women remain barred from secondary and university education, and reports highlight increased restrictions on civil liberties. India's engagement is framed within the context of humanitarian needs and human rights advocacy.