In furtherance of the recent shift in India’s foreign policy, India has signed a joint statement alongside Pakistan, China, Taliban and Russia against the USA.
During the Moscow format consultation on Afghanistan, all the above countries along with the central Asian states of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have issued the statement, condemning any military presence of foreign powers in Afghanistan.
The statement is believed to be aimed at president trump’s attempt at reclaiming Bagram Air Base near Kabul.
While the US administration has renewed interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan region, it sensed that Afghanistan cannot be left for good, especially with worsening tensions in Iran, Ukraine, Central Asia and China.
The Bagram Air Base is the biggest and perhaps the only securable base in Afghanistan and can serve strategic reach across the entire restive region. It is also centrally situated to the belt and road project of china.
Already the arms, left behind by NATO forces, in Taliban possession is a big concern for the US, Bagram going to Chinese or Russian control would be disastrous.
For India though it’s a difficult choice and possibly costly foreign policy shift. Its conflicting interests with Pakistan and China, make any alliance with them dysfunctional.
Even the Taliban can’t be an ally to any progressive, liberal democracy. If the modi administration thinks that these values are negotiable, then its foreign policy is bound to fail.
Large civilizational states like India cannot have adhoc foreign policy.
