India is increasing its support to Taliban-led Afghanistan and positioning itself as the primary responder in the region following a recent earthquake, in an attempt to counter China’s growing influence in the area, according to officials and analysts. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was quick to contact his Taliban counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi after the earthquake, promising additional aid following the shipment of 15 tons of food. The Foreign Ministry also indicated that medical supplies would be sent soon, using the hashtag #IndiaFirstResponder for promotion.
China also expressed readiness to provide assistance after the earthquake near Mazar-i-Sharif resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals and left over 900 injured. Analysts noted that both India and China are eager to enhance their relations with the Taliban, with India’s ties with Afghanistan improving recently, while relations with Pakistan have deteriorated.
According to Harsh Pant, head of foreign policy studies at the Observer Research Foundation, India’s outreach to Afghanistan aims to build goodwill among the local population as a form of soft power. While it may not be able to completely replace the support from Western nations, India’s efforts are crucial to prevent China from stepping in. India recently hosted Muttaqi for six days and announced plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul, closed since 2021, along with promises of collaboration on various projects.
China, which has strong ties with Pakistan, has expressed interest in exploring mining and mineral opportunities in Afghanistan, encouraging Kabul to join its Belt and Road Initiative. Both Indian and Chinese support are vital for the Taliban, who took control after the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO forces in 2021 but continue to face isolation from Western nations due to human rights concerns.
Ibraheem Bahiss from the International Crisis Group highlighted the challenges faced by Afghanistan in receiving aid and development funds due to its limited access to the international banking system and lack of regular coordination channels.