Table of Contents
AFGHANISTAN
INVASIONS OF AFGHANISTAN
U.S.S.R in Afghanistan – The Soviet–Afghan War lasted over nine years, from December 1979 to February 1989.
THE TALIBAN
INVASIONS OF AFGHANISTAN
The United States invasion of Afghanistan occurred after the September 11 attacks in late 2001, supported by close US allies. The conflict is also known as the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Its public aims were to dismantle al-Qaeda, and to deny it a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by removing the Taliban from power.
2018 – WHO CONTROLS AFGHANISTAN
WHAT TO DO NEXT?
The U.S is running out of options
MOSCOW FORMAT 2018
Moscow Format – 2 nd meeting initiated by Russia on the issue of Taliban in Afghanistan 12 participants – China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Russia and U.S + Representatives of Taliban
INDIA AND TALIBAN
India sent two former diplomats as “non-official” participants at the recent “Moscow format” multilateral meeting that included Taliban delegates. Indian government-nominated representatives sharing the table with a Taliban delegation for the first time is notable.
INDIA’S REPRESENTATIVES
Amar Sinha and TCA Raghavan as its representatives. While Mr. Sinha was ambassador to Kabul (2013-2016), Mr. Raghavan has held senior posts in the Ministry of External Affairs dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan and was High Commissioner to Islamabad (2013-2015) and is currently the Director General of the government-run Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) think-tank based in Delhi.
WHAT WAS INDIA’S TRADITIONAL POSITION?
India was among the countries that had refused to recognise the Taliban regime of 1996-2001. India watched Taliban’s growth with concern, assessing early that it was being driven by Pakistan’s army and the ISI.
RUSSIA’S GREAT GAME
Russia’s ambition to re-assert itself in the southern part of Central Asia and Afghanistan in particular. The Taliban also benefited from the conference: for the first time its representatives participated in a forum organised by a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
INDIA’S NEW POSITION
India and Russia support the Afghan government’s efforts towards the realisation of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, Deputy National Security Adviser Pankaj Saran said