Informal Discussion On India and Afghanistan With Prof. Sonali Chitalkar

For the domestic audience speaking about India leading the world or being the “Vishwa Guru” is totally understandable but soon as you cross our borders, the dynamics change. What better example than position of India vis-a-vis Afghanistan.

This article was first recorded on Google Meet as part of ‘Informal Discussion on India and Afghanistan with Prof. Sonali Chitalkar’ of Miranda House College, Delhi University. It is uploaded on my YouTube channel ‘Col Sanjay Pande’ at

It takes much more than speaking to get counted on the international scene. Seven years of a stable government in New Delhi should have put us in some place of importance for events happening literally in our backyard. Today we find ourselves completely outmanoeuvred to the level of vacating Afghanistan in panic and evacuating thousands of our citizens. Taliban has not unleashed brutality on any international community, and no country, barring US, Pakistan, Russia and China can take credit for no bloodshed. Russia and China not only maintain their missions but China has appointed a new face as ambassador two days ago, who is expert of the region.

It is back to basics for India. We must answer some questions to find if we are doing our work correctly. What is India’s ‘National Interest”?

Are we clear of what is our ‘national interest’? If we were, Afghanistan can be taken as an example to answer what our national interest is. We are a reactive state and hence our national interests are not decided by us in advance with the matching policies and correct mindset. We ‘react’ to situations, both nationally and internationally. There is a great divide in opinions, opinion makers, the decision makers and the people who execute it. The foundation is based on distrust on each other and we do not come out as ‘one team’. Result is two-fold, firstly, for situations arising in real time, we have no set response and secondly, we are not in a position to predict events and take corrective measures.

• What are our Primary Interests or  Necessary Interests or Vital Components that threaten our survival and identity?  In view of the reactive scenario we work in, we have no primary interest specified. A nation that is still trying to find an answer to “what is India’s national Interest?’, we cannot split it to primary and secondary interest. Security at the borders and security in the hinterland is our primary interest. To matter internationally, we need to have the mental and physical muscle to influence nations. For economic progress we need to have least amount of clashes within citizens. The necessity of identifying obstacles to each need to be removed. Unless we all of this, can we specify what our national interests are? A National Interest for one is anti-national act for another. How then do we put our collective strength behind our national interests, which remain undefined?

• What is our physical identity with specific reference to ‘Territorial Boundaries’?  We are still struggling settling border problems with Pakistan and China despite being in 75^th year of independence. Our physical identity is played with internationally by depicting wrong boundaries that do not match with the official boundaries. This is a major area for improvement. Since 1846 Britain decided our national boundaries with no involvement on local leaders. The local leaders were made to focus on their survival by creating two countries out of one. The result is undefined physical identity. Since 1947 we are struggling. Except Bhutan, we don’t have a single international boundary where clashes with neighbouring country have not taken place. If we take the last 75 years of independence, there is just one question to be asked, ‘What, we as INDIA, have achieved towards gaining a physical identity?’

• What is our political identity? How is democracy helping us? The biggest misnomer in current period of history is about ‘political identity’ and ‘democracy’ of any democratic nation in the world. A handful of people bring mighty nations to knees. Nation to nation the test of strength is a matter of economic muscle. US, a democratic country and the militarily mightiest nation finally buckled to Taliban. China, in May/Jun 2021 said it will ‘bash’ head of US. In view of this, what political identity do we seek? Countries cannot dominate over others anymore.The only political identity is by consolidation internally as ‘one nation’ and tackle challenges as they come.

• What is our cultural identity and how do historical cultural values help us? The cultural identity again is a misnomer. Culture has crossed all boundaries. Flash mobs on Hindi songs, food and cuisines, dance, drama, authors and practically every aspect of culture is no more localised. What identity can we have? Culture must be used as a soft weapon to achieve national interests.

• How are we with regard to security? The most important aspect stands ignored. We need to be seamlessly integrated from a Police Station to the Strategic Commands. Where are we?

• Secondary Interests: This includes the protection of the citizens abroad and ensuring of diplomatic immunities for the diplomatic staff. With the boundaries not limiting movement of people across globe, the concept of providing protection to citizens has outlived its life. Life of own citizens can be saved by national policies. Diplomatic immunity is a post Second World War term which has lost relevance. Any militant group can outmanoeuvre the government to threaten the diplomatic staff. We need to relook afresh and work on secondary interests.

• Permanent Interests: These refer to the relatively constant long-term interests of the state. Can India become ‘Vishwa Guru’? Constant long term interest lies in consolidating nation. We cannot have a state fractured by caste, religion, economic disparity which, most of the time fights with itself. These 75 years need to have ‘one nation to whole world’ approach. We cannot the Government handling an issue while the opposition goes to the same enemy with unknown agenda. In order to dream of becoming ‘Vishwa Guru’, we need to be internally strong, which is not so.

What should be India’s focus in Afghanistan in the context of National Interest as defined ?

Is India’s response to the current Afghanistan upheaval more of a national response or is it more to do with person, past and party? Kandahar, 2001 was under the current party, Taliban then, Taliban now, NSA was present at the hijack site in 2001. Are the responses more to do with person, past and party or is it the correct response? Why then should the party encourage few veterans to pump in funds, military equipment and support to Northern Alliance?

We MUST stay out militarily and ensure no political interference. Reach out to Taliban and restart the process of reconciliation and trust on people-to-people connect.

Taliban desperately requires local support, support them to regain Baluchistan and Pashtunistan. Work on giving them a sea coast.

For detailed analysis visit YouTube channel ‘Col Sanjay Pande’ at

Informal Discussion On India and Afghanistan With Prof. Sonali Chitalkar

Earlier

Part 1- Afghanistan Fall of a Republic and India’s Three Front War

explains the Third Front of India. Afghanistan provides us the opportunity to change the course of India’s image in the international arena, where, to say the least, it is dismal. We need to immediately launch our war against the Third Front. Afghanistan-India relations in near future will be guided by the resolve to defeat the third front.

Part 2- Afghanistan Fall of a Republic and India’s Three Front War

How is Afghanistan involved in India’s THREE FRONT WAR? Afghanistan is the watershed in India’s fight against the THIRD FRONT. While we discovered the first front in 1948, we took 73 years to discover the Second.

Col Sanjay Pande

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