India-Afghanistan Relations UPSC – Overview 2023

India-Afghanistan Relations UPSC – Overview 2023

India-Afghanistan Relations UPSC – Overview 2023 Afghanistan and India are neighboring South Asian countries. The two nations are likewise individuals from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The two countries have had close ties since ancient times. During the Mahabharata period, the princess of Gandhara (now Kandahar) in Afghanistan was married to King Dhritarashtra of Hastinapur (now Delhi). These ties deepened after the fall of the Taliban in the 21st century. During President Hamid Karzai’s visit to India on October 5, 2011, three agreements on strategic issues, sharing of mineral resources and partnership on gas exploration were signed during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The relationship between India and Afghanistan is seen as a friendly one. India has signed several development agreements with Afghanistan and India and Afghanistan support each other in the international arena. The second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Afghanistan, formed under the auspices of the Bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreement 2011, was held on 11 September 2017 in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani. During his visit, Rabbani also called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of India reiterated that the two countries enjoy time-tested friendly relations and reiterated India’s continued cooperation in building a united, sovereign, democratic, peaceful, stable, prosperous and pluralistic Afghanistan. The Strategic Partnership Council discussed and exchanged views on a number of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and common sense. The results of the four joint working groups in the areas of political and security issues, trade, commerce and investment, development cooperation, and human resource development, education and culture were reviewed and positively evaluated.

India-Afghanistan Relations PDF

Political and Security Advice in India UPSC 2023

Both sides expressed serious concern over the incidents of terror and violence in Afghanistan that have resulted in the loss of many innocent lives. Noting that terrorism is the greatest threat to the peace, stability and progress of a region and its environs, they have called for the abolition of all forms of aid, state and sponsorship, safe havens and their sanctuaries against Afghanistan. Fortifying security collaboration between the two countries was concurred. India agreed to provide more assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Services to combat the threat of terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering. The Indian side reiterated its cooperation for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. For the success of regional and international efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, it was agreed that concrete, meaningful and verifiable measures would be taken to end the violence immediately.

Trade, Commerce and Investment corporation UPSC Notes

Both sides welcomed the establishment of an air cargo corridor between Kabul and Kandahar with New Delhi in June 2017. It was agreed to include Afghanistan and other countries in India and expand it to increase the number of cargo flights between the two countries. Reaffirming the importance of connectivity and free and uninterrupted transport and transmission access for Afghanistan and Central Asia, the two sides will soon establish four outbound ports in Iran under a bilateral agreement signed in May 2016 to establish an international transport and transmission corridor. Work to make it work. In this regard, both parties agreed to explore joint ventures.

The early start of shipment of 170,000 metric tonnes of wheat from Afghanistan through Charbahar port was welcomed. Both sides stressed the need to make the regional transmission and trade agreement more comprehensive and comprehensive in order to connect South Asia with Central Asia. They stressed the importance of making joint efforts for early implementation of the Tapi gas pipeline project, which is an excellent example of alliance and trade cooperation between Central Asia and South Asia. It was also agreed to identify products and measures to enhance bilateral trade, including direct trade in gems, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, to take advantage of the significant potential for trade and investment.

In this context, quality assurance and standardization, production of logistics and refrigerated warehousing, creation of production capacity for value-added products, banking and finance, credit and insurance were identified. They agreed to undertake buyer-seller programs and to establish further linkages between the Chamber of Commerce and merchants. In this regard, the India-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Exhibition which is being held in New Delhi from September 27-29, 2017 will bring together the business community. The liberalization of visa criteria for Afghan citizens of India, including the decision to grant multiple entry business visas for 5 years, will be welcomed as a step to promote bilateral trade and commerce.

New Development Partnership

Afghanistan and India are two neighboring countries in South Asia located in each other’s neighborhood. Both are also members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The two nations have had close ties since old times. In the Mahabharata period, the Princess of Gandhara in Afghanistan, now Kandahar, was married to King Dhritarashtra of Hastinapur (now Delhi).

After the fall of the Taliban in the 21st century, relations between the two countries have once again become very strong. India has played a constructive role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. During the visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to India on October 4, 2011, three agreements on strategic issues, sharing of mineral resources and partnership on oil and gas exploration were signed during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The relations between India and Afghanistan are very friendly and fraternal. India has signed a number of development agreements with Afghanistan. And both India and Afghanistan have always supported each other in the international arena.

Recognizing bilateral development cooperation as a strategic partnership and the positive effects of projects implemented under the US 2 2 billion development and financial assistance to Afghanistan for social, economic, infrastructural and human resource development, the two sides agreed on an ambitious and forward-looking future. Launched ‘New Development Partnership’. In this regard, the two sides agreed to undertake 116 high impact community development projects to be implemented in 31 provinces of Afghanistan, including education, health, agriculture, irrigation, in accordance with the priorities and requests of the Government and people of Afghanistan. These include drinking water, renewable energy, flood control, micro-hydel power, sports infrastructure and administrative infrastructure.

The Afghan side proposed development in communication infrastructure (optic fiber) and setting up of 180 MW Surobi 2 hydroelectric plant. The Indian side agreed to investigate. People-to-people contacts, culture, education, health, science and technology for capacity building, skills for Afghan citizens and comprehensive programs for human resource development were positively evaluated. The 10th anniversary of the IICR Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Citizens was celebrated in 2016 and it was agreed to implement it further for the period 2017 to 2022. From the academic year 2018-19, it was decided to introduce 520 scholarships for postgraduate education in India for the children of martyrs of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and to provide medical assistance to Afghan National Army personnel. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) will be used to strengthen the administration and governance of Afghanistan at the national, provincial and district levels, with experience in building civil administration and project implementation capabilities. Support. An international partnership will also be developed in this endeavor. The Indian Foreign Service will host a workshop for Afghan diplomats in December 2017, including on consular matters.

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Appreciating India’s assistance in establishing ANASTU (Afghan National University of Agricultural Science and Technology) in Kandahar, it was agreed that further collaboration would be sought to strengthen ANASTU as an agricultural university. Welcoming Afghanistan’s participation in the South Asia Satellite launched in May 2017, India agreed to increase its assistance to Afghanistan in applications for remote sensing technology. Appreciating the work of India-Afghanistan Foundation for promoting cultural and people-to-people contacts, the decision to organize India-Afghanistan Culture Day in the near future was welcomed. In addition, ICCR will provide assistance, including musical instruments, to the Afghan National Music Institute in Kabul. To promote tourism and people-to-people contacts, both parties agreed to further promote exchanges between MPs, Election Commission, media, women, youth, religious leaders and organizations, sports parties and to facilitate closer nation / city relations.

Regional and Global Partnerships UPSC PDF

Recalling the unprecedented success of the historic Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HOA) Ministerial Conference in Amritsar in December 2016, Afghanistan recognized the significant work done by India under HOA’s confidence building measures in the areas of trade, commerce and investment and trade. Welcomed the soft launch of the portal. Both sides agreed to work in a regional and international framework. The UN and the WTO also agreed to coordinate on matters of mutual interest.