By SHRI RAM SHAW
New Delhi, 25 Aug: “Will India and the international community recognise the Taliban-led regime in Kabul? How can India and the US enhance their coordination to deal with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan? How should India engage with the Taliban to protect its core interests and to continue its role in development cooperation?” To explore various ways in which India and the World can bolster democratic forces to shape an inclusive and pluralistic Afghanistan, eminent diplomats and experts participated in a webinar, supported by Centre for Global India Insights (CGII), a think tank focused on international affairs.
The webinar featured eminent speakers, comprising diplomats and experts with years of dealing with and studying Afghanistan. The speakers include Amb. Jayant Prasad, India’s former ambassador to Afghanistan; Shakti Sinha, Honorary Director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies; Amb. T.C.A. Raghavan, India’s former High Commissioner to Pakistan & former DG, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA); Dr. Shanthie Mariet D’Souza, Founding Professor, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad; and Soumya Awasthi, Associate Fellow, VIF.
They discussed at length to explore how India should forge diplomatic coalitions to counter the Taliban. “Will the Taliban regime be a proxy of Pakistan or it will maintain its strategic independence? Will a Taliban-led Afghanistan become a regional and global hub of terrorism? What will be the status of women and minorities in the Taliban-led Afghanistan?” – were the questions experts were exchanging their views about.
“For India, the Taliban takeover is a big setback as it threatens to unravel its sustained investment in reconstruction projects that has transformed lives of Afghans, earning India enduring goodwill. India has to engage in smart diplomacy to protect its interests under the new Taliban regime,” said Manish Chand, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, India Writes Network (IWN), India and The World; and Director, Centre for Global India Insights (CGII).
Chand was expressing his views at the webinar titled “Taliban Takeover: What It Means for Afghanistan, India and the World,” which was organised to examine in depth India’s strategic options towards the new Taliban regime in Kabul and how it can protect its core interests in Afghanistan, in partnership with its like-minded strategic partners.
“The evolving situation in Afghanistan is fraught with uncertainty. The sudden Taliban takeover has also triggered a humanitarian tragedy, with thousands of Afghans, Indians and foreigners trying desperately to fly out of this living nightmare,” he added.
The webinar organised by India Writes Network and India & The World magazine sought to distil sense out of the chaotic situation and chart the way forward out of this distressing situation. The Kabul conquest by the Taliban and the ensuing chaos has triggered anxiety about the future of Afghanistan and its implications for India, the region and the world.
VOX POPULI
The webinar received an overwhelming response from the audience. Iftikhar Gilani said, “Very good understanding about Islamic schools of thought articulated by Soumya Awasthi.” Ashok Dixit reacted, “Well articulated thoughts on Afghanistan. The views expressed suggest wait & watch, and caution specifically with regard to Pakistan and China. I found Shakti Sinha Sir’s description of changed Taliban to what it was rabidly Islamic before particularly interesting. Timely webinar.”
Narjis Hussain was all praise “for organizing the insightful webinar.” Rajiv Bhatia stated, “It was a rich feast you served. Thanks a lot!” Shefan Jahan said, “It was quite informative a session on the internal dynamics of Afghan politics. At present we can only guess Afghan future politics, so it’s good to have insights.”