The call from White House

The last time Afghan leaders’ invitation to the White House elicited similar interest was in the late 80s. The invitation to the Mujahideen was to compliment them on a job well done, a job that involved assassinations, mayhem and destruction. The prime collateral damage of the ascent of the Mujahideen followed by the Taliban was to India, which had to bid goodbye to its interests in the region. The latest White House invite to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his number two Abdullah Abdullah has the opposite portents for India. It signals that the interests of countries such as India, that backed Afghan officials committed to democracy, non-violence, development and upholding women’s rights will not be sidestepped.

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Ghani and Abdullah will doubtless also be complimented by the White House for doing a reasonable job in holding out against out-and-out marauders. The situation has not yet eased for the embattled duo who along with their top aides are seen as belonging to the pro-India camp. This is where India has its work cut out. The Chinese and the Indians are seen by Afghans as having the resources to put their country on the path to development that will serve as a counter-magnet to the culture of gun rule. Last year’s Galwan Valley incident has put paid to the earlier desire of China and India to execute joint projects in Afghanistan.

This apparent parting of ways may well be a blessing, for India already has a lot on its plate which needs to be brought to fruition. As Biden reconciles with Tehran, the path will open for India to open a sea route for Afghanistan, traversing through Iran, and in the process reduce Kabul’s over-dependency on Karachi port, its sole outlet for imports and exports. A dam project to bring drinking water to parched Kabul is also awaiting Indian execution. But Afghanistan, being a security state, will require India to shed its hesitation for greater involvement to defend the values it helped Kabul uphold. Biden’s gesture in inviting the Afghan duo has sent important signals about India’s continuing involvement which New Delhi must seize upon.