- Ever since the Taliban has completely taken over battered Afghanistan, the common citizens of the country are at the receiving end from several fronts. Right from livelihood, safety, security, accommodation, food, medicine, and job opportunities, the people of the landlocked country are in the midst of a grave crisis. Further exacerbated by the fundamentalist and anachronistic viewpoints of the Taliban officials, Afghan citizens are staring at a bleak future that only portends a mountain of hardships and challenges in the days ahead. Finding succor soon appears too distant a dream as people continue to struggle to survive every day.
PC: Sinead Baker
- Upholding the medieval fundamentalist shenanigans has done little for the Taliban authorities in seeking relief from the world community. Amidst growing calls to extend all possible humanitarian aids as the economic crises bogging the country assumes miserable proportions, news reports are emerging of India participating in the second official-level contact with the Taliban. Recently, the Islamist group has revealed that New Delhi had offered to provide extensive humanitarian assistance to mitigate the sufferings of Afghans. Of course, the Indian government is yet to confirm this but extending humanitarian assistance for ordinary Afghan citizens should be welcomed.
- Reports emerging suggest the situation in Afghanistan is dire today with supplies of essentials running really low. As you are aware, its foreign reserves are frozen by the US and IMF to tide over the mounting crises. t is to be noted with grave concern that Afghan civil servants and medics have not been paid in months and the WHO last month mentioned that 90% of its 2,300 health clinics across the country risk shutting down. However, extending aid to Afghanistan is complicated by the fact that the Taliban’s interim government is yet to be internationally recognized and comprises members who are proscribed as terrorists.
PC: Arif Hayat
- Nonetheless, Afghan citizens should not be made to suffer simply because their previously elected government fled leaving them to fend for themselves. Additionally, if the humanitarian crises escalate, the fallout will be on neighboring countries that will have to deal with a further exodus of Afghan refugees. Agreed, under the circumstances, totally bypassing Taliban in aid delivery may not be possible. Though, the prevailing situation can be effectively aimed at encouraging, cajoling, and impressing upon the group to reform, respect human rights, and become more inclusive.
- The Indian think tank should be moving its strategic pieces carefully keeping in mind the already disturbing impact on Kashmir, which is witnessing a new spurt of terrorism attacks on innocent civilian minorities. Therefore, the rational and effective measure is to cultivate a two-track approach where ordinary Afghans are helped, and the Taliban incentivized. Against this backdrop, India would do well to restart the normal processing of medical and student visas for Afghans. Such a geostrategic policy would not only help India preserve the huge goodwill it enjoys with ordinary Afghans but also allow it to work out a new equation with the Taliban as well.
