Recently, a significant power-sharing agreement was signed between President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah in Afghanistan. This new alliance has drawn international attention.
The Elements of the Power-sharing Deal
The power-sharing agreement stipulates that President Ghani retains his role while both he and Abdullah have the equal right to select ministers for the cabinet. Another notable element of the deal is that Abdullah gains leadership over the country’s National Reconciliation High Council, which operates with the authority to manage and approve matters related to the Afghan peace process, including negotiations with the Taliban.
The Background of the Deal
The agreement comes two months after a presidential election dispute erupted in September 2019 between Ghani and Abdullah. The Election Commission declared Ghani as the winner, but Abdullah and the Elections Complaint Commission raised accusations of extensive voting irregularities. In the aftermath, both politicians claimed victory and the nation became embroiled in a power struggle.
The U.S.-Taliban Peace Deal
Earlier this year, on February 29, 2020, a landmark peace agreement was struck between the U.S. Government and the Taliban. This agreement included provisions for U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops to withdraw from Afghanistan. The completion of this peace deal has been hailed as the country’s best opportunity for lasting peace after enduring decades of conflict. The U.S. has since been fostering talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, though these efforts have been hindered by the political turmoil and hostility between Ghani and Abdullah.
International Reactions: The Stance of The U.S. & India
In light of the ongoing political struggle in Afghanistan, the U.S. Government announced that it would reduce assistance funds to Afghanistan by $1 billion unless Ghani and Abdullah could resolve their differences. India, however, has expressed a positive perspective on the power-sharing deal, expressing hopes that this agreement would lead to renewed efforts to establish enduring peace, stability, and cease externally-sponsored terrorism and violence in Afghanistan.
The Importance of Afghanistan for India
For India, Afghanistan holds significant strategic importance, predominantly due to its geographical positioning. Control over Afghanistan provides access to critical land routes between the Indian subcontinent, Iran, and resource-rich Central Asia. Economically, Afghanistan serves as a gateway to the oil and mineral wealthy Central Asian republics. Over the last five years, Afghanistan has become the second-largest recipient of Indian foreign aid. The popularity of India within Afghanistan has grown not only due to its soft power but also because of infrastructural contributions including hospitals, roads, and dams, adding to the development of a democratic nation-state.
