India needs to be diplomatically astute to keep Taliban at bay

Following the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the immediate takeover by Talibans, India has quite an uphill task up its sleeves. While it has been combating Pakistan at the LOC, and China at the LAC, the emergence of Talibans poses greater challenge for us. India now needs to be brace itself up by ramping up its defence infrastructure, and remaining constantly on the guard as our enemies Pakistan and China would leave no stone unturned in instigating Talibans against India.

In such a circumstance, our diplomacy will play a critical role in helping us cope with our enemies.

It’s a given that the Talibans are Jihadis and terrorists who have absolutely no respect for the human rights and liberty of the common man. But even then, India needs to engage with them as part of their diplomatic policy with foreign nations. The doors of talks and discussions with the new Taliban led government in Afghanistan have to be kept open in the larger interest of the nation. When we could hold both diplomatic and military level talks with Chinese counterparts that included the 10 rounds of corporate commander level talks with our Enemy China, there is no rhyme or reason why India should not engage with the new government of Afghanistan slated to being run by the Sharia law.

The possibility of a third world war seems negligible, but the world is now broadly split into two key blocks. China- Pakistan- Talibans-Iran- Turkey, Syria, North Korea are one block while USA, UK, India, France, Germany, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea etc constitute the second block.

The Russia factor has great relevance viz a viz India. Albeit, it may seem to be endorsing the new Afghanistan government led by Taliban, India should not be oblivious of the fact that the Russians are time tested friends of India. Implying that, we as a nation, must perpetually keep our ties intact with Russia.

An astute diplomatic approach with different nations can play a game changer role for India as world powers are surely acknowledging the emergence of India on the global arena. India will stand to gain astronomically if Chexit (Different countries exiting from their trading alliances with China) becomes a reality in times to come. In such an eventuality, India will have greater prospects of entering into trading pacts with nations opting out of their alliances from China.

In his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort this year, PM Modi unequivocally conveyed that terrorism (aatankvaad) and expansionist forces (vistaarvaad) posed the greatest challenge to Mankind and India.

India should leave no stone unturned in exposing China on the global forum, and press for imposing sanctions against them for infecting the world with Corona virus as part of a bigger biological warfare plot to gain global supremacy. If India successfully manages to nail China’s sinister plot to usurp WHO and Interpol, it would clinch two milestones with this. Firstly, we would manage to prove to China that we are “New India” which believes in Action and Implementation both. Secondly, it would help India establish its clout worldwide.

India has always believed in nurturing cordial and harmonious ties with its neighbours, and a prime instance in this regard being Afghanistan where India has made massive investments in various infrastructural development projects.

Nepal is another nation that India has forever supported. Ironically, the treacherous Chinese lured Nepal with its debt trap policy, and thus instigated them to stage an uprising against their long trusted associate India. As a consequence, it led to land disputes between Nepal and India.

The process of engaging with friendly neighbours, enemies and frenemies is a never ending affair, and India must always adhere to this. The onus should continually remain on engagement with neighbours, and de-escalation of volatile situations with enemy nations.

Akin to the defensive and an attacking field in cricketing parlance, India too should never hold itself back in resorting to an attacking approach, if the situation so demands, and our neighbours fail to mend their ways.