India’s Taliban Tightrope: Balancing Strategy and Stability

Shift in India’s Policy: India is deepening ties with the Taliban, a significant shift from its 1990s disengagement, marked by reopening its Kabul embassy in 2022 and considering a Taliban diplomat in New Delhi.
Strategic Motives: Aims to counter Pakistan’s influence and catch up with China’s engagement in Afghanistan, reflecting realpolitik to secure regional interests.
Taliban’s Gender Apartheid: The Taliban’s severe restrictions on women (e.g., 1.4 million girls denied education, bans on jobs and public spaces) have drawn UN criticism, complicating India’s engagement.
Terrorism Concerns: Rising attacks by Tehrik-e Taliban (147 in Pakistan, February 2025) and Islamic State threats (e.g., Jalalabad consulate attack) challenge India’s security calculus.
Lessons from Rivals: China and Pakistan’s troubled engagements with the Taliban (e.g., stalled investments, border tensions) warn India of potential risks.
Historical Context: India’s past experience with terrorism tied to Afghanistan (e.g., 1990s Kashmir violence) underscores the need for caution against legitimising a terror-linked regime.
Geopolitical Stakes: Accepting the Taliban risks endorsing a radical neighbour, but disengagement may cede influence to rivals, posing a dilemma for India’s Afghan strategy.