A strange diplomatic situation has developed with the Afghanistan Embassy “ceasing” its operations in New Delhi. This was after the Taliban put its own man at the embassy’s head. The staff appointed by the previous, democratically elected government had continued to remain in positions there so far despite the change of government in Kabul two years ago. The embassy’s contention that there was lack of “timely support” to it from the Indian government is seen in the background of a likely strengthening of contacts between New Delhi and Taliban in recent months, after a period of frozen relations. Notably, India as also other nations have not recognised the Taliban rule and keep saying that Afghanistan requires an inclusive government and that Taliban’s encouragement to terrorist activities should stop. The US also adopts a similar line towards the Taliban. Having driven the Americans out after their stay there for two decades, in August 2021, and exit of the democratically elected government, the Taliban is governing the nation on fundamentalist styles.
The nine-nation Moscow Format meeting held in Kazan, Russia, on Saturday is a case in point. It made little progress vis-à-vis the calls for formation of an inclusive government, grant of jobs to women, and restarting girls’ education. The Taliban representative refused to give any commitment on these at the meeting attended by envoys from India and other regional powers. Several ethnic groups have no representation in the Taliban rule. While no nation has recognized the Taliban rule, several countries have their diplomatic missions in Kabul. India maintained a “technical mission” there since June last year. At the same time, India sees a window of opportunity for future cooperation on condition that Kabul does not maintain unholy ties with Pakistan. The Taliban representative has expressed the regime’s willingness to engage with the world on the basis of their mutual/common “legitimate” interests and sought global support and assistance to the Taliban to reshape the destiny of the landlocked nation in peril for over four decades now.
Afghanistan’s woes started with the Russian invasion, followed by the involvement and later arrival of the Americans, first to drive out the Russians and then to unseat the former Taliban rule. Afghanistan’s economy is in shambles, projecting an economic growth of 1.3 per cent this year. It survives on humanitarian assistance from the UN, which gave $ 5 billion in grants for poverty alleviation and developmental aid last year and $1 billion this year. Promised support from Americans is pending due to Taliban’s failure to meet conditions like restoration of the representative governance system and grant of freedom and rights to the people, including women. Religious fundamentalism is no panacea for the ills of a poverty-stricken nation.
