The first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan recently took place in Delhi, where it was announced that India will send its next batch of wheat aid to Afghanistan via Chabahar port. This follows a failure of agreement extension talks with Pakistan for sending the wheat over land routes. The decision comes following the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan.
The JWG meeting comes after last year’s India-Central Asia summit, where it was decided that a special contact group on Afghanistan would be constituted. The Central Asian countries have been concerned about drugs, terrorism exports, radicalism and refugees.
Understanding the Opioid Crisis in Afghanistan
According to reports by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium production in Afghanistan has surged by nearly one-third in the past year since the Taliban took over Kabul. Astonishingly, over 80% of global opium and heroin is smuggled out from Afghanistan, which makes up part of the Golden Crescent. An estimated three million people, or almost one-tenth of Afghanistan’s population, are addicted to opium.
The Recommendations of the Joint Working Group
The JWG emphasised the need for forming an inclusive and representative political structure that respects the rights of all Afghans, including minorities, women, and girls. The joint statement asserted that no terrorist organisations, including UN-designated terrorists, should be provided sanctuary or allowed to use Afghan territory. India agreed to offer customised capacity-building courses for UNODC Officials and stakeholders, and cooperate on initiatives to counter drug trafficking and assist with rehabilitation efforts for Afghan drug users, particularly women.
Past Aid Provided by India to Afghanistan
India has a history of providing substantial assistance to Afghanistan. In 2022, India signed an agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat committed to Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance. In 2020, India committed to delivering 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan to cope with the global COVID-19 pandemic and consequent food security issues. In 2018, a commitment of 2000 tonnes of pulses was made to promote food security in times of drought.
Medical supplies have also been donated by India, including 5 lakh tablets of Hydroxychloroquine, 1 Lakh tablets of Paracetamol, and 50,000 pairs of surgical gloves in 2020. Furthermore, a Medical Diagnostic Centre was established in Kabul by India in 2015, offering advanced diagnostic services to Afghan children and earning goodwill.
Infrastructure Development in Afghanistan by India
Since 2001, India has committed USD 3 billion towards the rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan. A noteworthy examination question from UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Questions (PYQ) Prelims was: “What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?” The answer highlighted India’s aspiration for reliable access to Afghanistan and Central Asia without dependence on Pakistan, which Chabahar Port enables.
The Chabahar Port Agreement Between India and Iran
In 2016, India and Iran signed a commercial contract for the development and operations of Chabahar Port for a period of 10 years. The port provides India with reliable access to Afghanistan and Central Asia via sea routes, reducing reliance on Pakistan for access to these regions. This initiative showcases India’s robust foreign policy and strategic manoeuvres to secure its geopolitical interests.