India- Afghanistan Ties: Towards a Sustainable Future
India- Afghanistan Ties: Towards a Sustainable Future India-Afghanistan relations are centuries old, rooted in history, culture and shared struggles. Recently, Afghanistan’s foreign minister’s visit marked by controversy, signaled New Delhi’s rational approach to safeguard strategic interests, security, trade developments and humanitarian commitments. Over the decades, India has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s most reliable development partners, investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare and governance reforms. India’s assistance has focused on people-centric development rather than military developments. Historical Background Ancient Relations : The relationship between India and Afghanistan dates back to ancient times, marked by trade, culture, and spiritual exchanges along the Silk Route. During the reign of Mauryan Empire (321 B.C.–184 B.C.) under Emperor Ashoka (268 B.C.–232 B.C.), Buddhism spread to Afghanistan while the Kushan Empire linked ...