THREE NEW ‘RED LINES’

Prelims level : International Mains level : GS2 - Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
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Context-

  • India draws new ‘red lines’ for talks on Afghan peace process.
  • These new “red lines” are going to be India’s new mantras, even as it pushes for a peace process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

The Three New Red Lines declared by India:

  • All initiatives and processes must include all sections of the Afghan society, including the legitimately elected government.
  • In the past, the Afghan government was often sidelined by international interlocutors when they engaged with the Taliban.
  • Any process should respect the constitutional legacy and political mandate. establishing democratic processes and human rights, including women’s rights, should be respected.
  • Any process should not lead to any ungoverned spaces where terrorists and their proxies can relocate.
  • This is crucial for India, as it points out the threat from terrorist groups including the Haqqani network, Al Qaeda, Islamic State, which must not be allowed to operate there.
  • Also, the Pakistan-based terrorist groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, and Jaish-e-Mohammed must not be allowed to relocate.

India and Afghanistan Relations:

Heart of Asia Conference (HoA):

  • HoA conference is a part of the Istanbul Process established in 2011 which provides a platform to discuss an agenda of regional cooperation with Afghanistan at its centre.

  • It seeks to provide a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbours
  • Its three main elements are
  • Political Consultation involving Afghanistan and its near and extended neighbours.
  • Achieving sustained incremental approach for implementation of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) identified in the Istanbul Process document.
  • Seeks to contribute and bring greater coherence to work of various regional processes and organisations, particularly as they relate to Afghanistan.

Amritsar Declaration:

  • The sixth edition of ‘Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process of Afghanistan ‘conference was held in Amritsar, Punjab (India). It concluded with adaptation of Amritsar Declaration with its prime focus on terrorism.
  • Terrorism: It is the biggest threat to peace and security. It is needed to end all forms of terrorism and all supporting financial activities and safe havens providing sanctuary to it.
  • Expressed concern over violence caused in Afghanistan and region by terrorists’ groups like Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Daesh (ISIS) and Jaish-e-Mohammed. It also mentions Haqqani Network.
  • Drug menace: There is urgency to respond to the nexus between drug menace and its financial support for terrorist entities in Afghanistan.
    CCIT: Early finalisation of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism (CCIT).
  • Early meeting of experts must be held to discuss a draft regional counter terrorism framework strategy, recently prepared by Afghanistan for its early finalisation.
  • Connectivity: Reiterated strong support from Heart of Asia countries for use of Afghanistan’s location to enhance wider and regional economic cooperation.
  • Specific initiatives for regional connectivity including Iran-India-Afghanistan trilateral agreement on developing Chabahar were acknowledged.

TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline:

  • To address its energy needs to sustain its economic growth, pipelines from Iran and Central Asia would be extremely important.
  • The general fear in India is that an unstable Afghanistan would hurt the this pipeline and the subsequent flow of gas.

Why Afghanistan is important to India?

  • Regional Balance of Power: Afghanistan is tied to India’s vision of being a regional leader and a great power, coupled with its competition with China over resources and its need to counter Pakistani influence.
  • India’s ability to mentor a nascent democracy will go a long way to demonstrate to the world that India is indeed a major power, especially a responsible one.
  • India’s interest in Afghanistan relates to its need to reduce Pakistani influence in the region.
  • Energy Security: The pipeline project TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India), which seeks to connect an energy-rich Central to South Asia, will only see the light of the day if stability is established in Afghanistan
  • Strategic Location: For access to the landlocked Central Asian countries that border Afghanistan.
  • Natural Resources: The country is home to resource deposits worth one trillion dollars, according to the US Geological Survey.
  • Regional Security: A stable Afghanistan is important for regional security in South Asia including India.
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