India’s Difficult Mission in Afghanistan

India’s embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan came under attack on Monday in a deadly suicide bombing, one of the most destructive attacks since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. This incident reflects increasing levels of violence directed at India’s robust presence in Afghanistan, much of which is humanitarian in nature.

Indian aid to Afghanistan has steadily increased in recent years. This commitment to rebuilding is both a gesture of goodwill toward a key regional ally and an exercise of strategic soft power. According to analyst Ahmed Rashid,

"India's reconstruction strategy was designed to win over every sector of Afghan society, give India a high profile with Afghans, gain the maximum political advantage and, of course, undercut Pakistani influence”.

Monday’s devastating attack shows that Indian efforts haven’t won over every Afghan heart and mind, and that India and Afghanistan share a difficult neighbor in Pakistan, a long-time enemy of both states. New Delhi’s resolve to maintain a humanitarian presence in Afghanistan highlights India’s determination to assert itself as an influential player on the international stage.

Many commentators have argued that a long-term commitment to development is the only way to solve Afghanistan’s many troubles. With no military presence to taint its image in Afghanistan, India is positioned to be a generous, well-intentioned foreign partner who’s in for the long haul. India’s efforts in this role have met with considerable success so far. But a security situation that is tenuous at best means that Indians operating in Afghanistan, whether as diplomats or aid workers, will face increasingly high risks.