September 17, 2021—Meeting with regional leaders in Tajikistan today, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern that the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan could exacerbate extremism in the area.
“I believe the biggest challenges in this area are related to peace, security and a trust deficit,” Modi said. “The root cause of these problems is the increasing radicalization. Afghanistan has made this challenge more clear.”
Taliban Influence Abroad
Diplomatic leaders in India’s capital New Delhi are apprehensive about the growing influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the progress of peace talks between the two countries.
The biggest challenges India faces as a result of the Taliban takeover in Kabul, seem to be peace, security and trust deficit. The Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishanker, who is in Tajikistan to meet with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) met with the Chinese delegation to discuss the issues India currently faces.
Since mid-August, political leaders in India have been faced with the immense challenge of rescuing delegates out of Afghanistan.
Modi Warns Of Instability And Fundamentalism
Modi, who joined the SCO Summit virtually on Friday, reiterated that India will stand by its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorist attacks. “Other extremist groups can also be encouraged to gain power through violence,” Modi said.
Modi warned that if “instability and fundamentalism” persist in Afghanistan, it will encourage terrorist and extremist ideologies all over the world.
“The change of power in Afghanistan was not inclusive and has taken place without negotiation,” Modi said. “Other extremist organizations might be encouraged to get power through violence. We should ensure that the land of Afghanistan is not used to spread terrorism in any country.”
Kashmir Concerns
Meanwhile, the Taliban takeover also changes the dynamic in Kashmir — a flashpoint for India-Pakistan relations. The two countries have fought two wars over Kashmir. Today, the concern is that Taliban-control of neighboring Afghanistan gives Pakistan an upper hand. According to reporting by NPR, “Indian officials worry that Afghanistan under the Taliban could be a base for organizing Islamist militants in Kashmir, many of whom are allied with Pakistan in their struggle against New Delhi.”
Drugs and Weapons
Apart from insurgencies and terrorist threats, “We must look out for uncontrolled flow of drugs, illegal weapons and human trafficking,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
India being one of the neighboring countries to Afghanistan is always under high alert in lieu of constant instability and threats from the region. The focus now for Indian leaders is to curb the outbreak of protests and violence as a result of the volatile political scenario that has resulted from the Taliban takeover.
China Urges Moderation
China’s President Xi Jinping urged SCO members to help “guide Afghanistan to develop an inclusive political structure and follow moderate internal and external policies.”
Security Barrier
Tajikistan, meanwhile, is encouraging regional countries to form a security barrier around Afghanistan, according to reporting by WION News.
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