https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/indo-afghan-engagements-less-economics-and-more-geo-economics/856394/ 1/21 Business News/ India News/ Indo-Afghan Engagements: Less Economics And More Geo-Economics Indo-Afghan engagements: less economics and more geo-economics The strategic partnership agreement between New Delhi and Kabul during the recently concluded state visit of Afghanistan?s President Hamid Karzai clearly signies the geo- economic gravity of India in the much volatile Af-Pak region. Written by FE Online , Faisal Ahmed October 6, 2011 03:34 IST Must Read Rajya Sabha elections 2024: BJP MLAs cross-vote, abstain in jolt to NDA in Karnata Follow Us Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Englishதழ்বাংলাമലയാളംગુજરાતીिहंदीमराठीBusinessिबज़नेसInsurance Sign in ELECTION https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/indo-afghan-engagements-less-economics-and-more-geo-economics/856394/ 2/21 The strategic partnership agreement between New Delhi and Kabul during the recently concluded state visit of Afghanistan?s President Hamid Karzai clearly signies the geo-economic gravity of India in the much volatile Af-Pak region. This partnership pact, the rst of its kind ever signed by Afghanistan, solicits India?s strategic role in issues ranging from terrorism to trade, and from political cooperation to capacity building. Interestingly, this broad-based institutional framework has a tri-dimensional connotation.
First, the current security situation in Afghanistan is fragile, owing to the killing of former Afghan President and peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani and the failure of reconciliation talks with the Taliban. https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/indo-afghan-engagements-less-economics-and-more-geo-economics/856394/ 3/21 Both these events bear huge geopolitical signicance as they have seriously disrupted the trajectory of peace-making in this war-torn nation. Its ripples are touching the delicate strings of nation-building, a task undertaken by both the US as well as India through their respective instruments of foreign policy. Besides, the obvious issues emanating from the decade old instability in Afghanistan do continue to be on board. In this wake, India?s role becomes signicant because of two fundamental reasons?support for democracy and stability in Af-Pak, and commitment for Afghan reconstruction.
This brings the second connotation into the picture?the role of India in Afghan reconstruction through its engagements in the development process. In May this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Kabul and asserted India?s willingness for sustainable participation in the process of reconstruction and development. As of now, New Delhi has already committed $2 billion as developmental assistance to Afghanistan, as part of its belief that socio- economic development in Afghanistan would help ensure regional stability. India?s development assistance for Afghan reconstruction covers four broad areas namely, humanitarian assistance, community development, infrastructure, and education and capacity building.
As part of humanitarian assistance, India ensures a daily supply of 100 gms of fortied, high-protein biscuits to nearly 2 million children and provides free medical consultations and medicines to over 30,000 Afghans every month.