The next target of the Taliban in Afghanistan is the Salma Dam, which is a treasure trove of resources for the country. This dam is a symbol of India-Afghanistan friendship.
Taliban fighters with flags and weapons in hand (AFP)
After the withdrawal of foreign troops and the war that lasted for nearly 20 years, Afghanistan is once again seen going into the hands of the Taliban. The terrorist organization is claiming to have control over 85 percent of the country. Neighboring country Pakistan is also supporting the Taliban. Many Afghan army personnel have crossed the border to Tajikistan to escape from Taliban fighters. In such a situation, Afghanistan is left alone from all sides. American reports are claiming from coup to civil war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, India has increased its activism. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is traveling continuously. In the past, before the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting, Jaishankar also met the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, so can India send its army to Afghanistan to save Afghanistan from possible war and Taliban?
S Jaishankar started his journey from Qatar. A peace agreement was signed between the US and the Taliban in Qatar itself and peace talks are going on between Afghanistan-Taliban. After Qatar, the Foreign Minister reached Uzbekistan via Iran, Russia and then Tajikistan. S Jaishankar met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Multilateral Connectivity Summit in Tashkent. During this, he discussed the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and reiterated India’s support for peace and stability in the country.
Opposing to ‘grabbing power on the basis of force’
The External Affairs Minister has also met US Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmai Khalilzad. Jaishankar Prasad reached Tashkent after a two-day visit to Tajikistan. In Dushanbe, he participated in an important meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The meeting discussed the deteriorating situation due to the increasing influence of the Taliban after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
The situation in Afghanistan began to worsen when in April, US President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Earlier the US had set a deadline till September for this, but now the US wants to complete this process by August 31. In the SCO meeting, the Indian External Affairs Minister had opposed the ‘grabbing of power by force’. The meeting was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Afghanistan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar.
Taliban coming to power is a threat to India
According to reports, Pakistan is helping the Taliban. The Pakistani army spokesman has said that peace in Pakistan will depend on the peace of Afghanistan. On Friday, Pakistan postponed the ‘Afghan peace talks’ till Eid al-Adha. On the other hand, peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban began once again in Qatar on Saturday. These talks between the two sides will determine the future of South Asia. Meanwhile, the Taliban is targeting the Salma Dam, which is considered a symbol of friendship between India and Afghanistan. India had spent crores of rupees on this dam. This dam is a treasure trove of energy and irrigation water for Afghanistan. The terrorist organization is continuously raining bombs on this dam located in Herat province.
The coming of Taliban to power can pose a threat to both India and Pakistan. However, Pakistan can take advantage of friendship with the Taliban. The Taliban said about India that ‘India is giving weapons to the Afghan army’. Not only this, according to Foreign Policy Magazine, Taliban has asked India to prove its impartiality before talks. Therefore, coming to power of Taliban will be a bad news for India.
Will India send its army to Afghanistan?
In the midst of these circumstances in Afghanistan, questions are being raised whether India will send its army across the border to curb terrorism? India’s ambassador to Afghanistan says that at present we have not asked for military assistance from India, but we can do so in the coming time. According to the ambassador, if the ongoing talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban in Qatar fail, then military assistance can be sought from India. It is estimated that Afghanistan may need help soon as the US report predicted a coup in Afghanistan in the coming months.
On the other hand, diplomat Syed Akbaruddin, who was India’s ambassador to the United Nations, has said that there is no possibility of India sending troops to Afghanistan. Talking to Foreign Policy, he said that we have many challenges before us on the borders and given the current situation, I do not think that this will be allowed. According to the report of Navbharat Times, Rahul Bedi says that India can give arms to Afghanistan but cannot send army because it itself opposes the interference of foreign troops in other countries.
In India’s interest to secure borders
According to the information, there are currently 3100 Indian citizens in Afghanistan, whose future is now in danger. Afghan analysts argue that if India contributes to the peacekeepers sent by the United Nations to Afghanistan, then India can stop the violence in Afghanistan by sending its troops. The news even says that China also wants to send peacekeepers to Afghanistan. As far as Pakistan is concerned, due to its friendship with the Taliban, it will not send peacekeepers to Afghanistan. Akbaruddin says that peace soldiers cannot be sent to Afghanistan because peacekeepers are sent where there is already peace and only to maintain it.
Some Indian analysts believe that India should talk with the Taliban. His reasoning behind this is that when everyone is talking to Taliban then why can’t India? However, no confirmation has been made on the Indian side regarding talks with the Taliban at the moment. On the other hand Taliban is also ready to talk with India. Security experts believe that instead of sending troops across the border, India should strengthen the security on its border more. The deteriorating situation in Afghanistan will affect India, Pakistan as well as Russia, Iran and China. In such a situation, not only Afghanistan but many countries can make their strategy for Taliban afresh.
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