Afghan facing acute food crisis:

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 27, Oct 2021

Executive director of the World Food Programme has said that Afghanistan is on the brink of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises with more than half the country facing “acute” food shortages.

What’s the issue?

Taliban has taken full control of Afghanistan. People have no jobs and incomes. Over 22 million Afghans will suffer food insecurity this winter as a drought driven by climate change adds to their woes. This will force them to choose between migration and starvation.

Significance of Afghan stability :

• Can have spill over to Neighbouring central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekiatan etc
• Taliban resurgence will revive extremism in the region and the region can become a safe sanctuary for Let,ISIS etc.
• Civil war in Afghanistan will lead to a refugee crisis in Central Asia and beyond.
• Afghanistan’s stability will help the Central Asian countries with the shortest access to the seaports of the Indian ocean.
• Afghanistan has been an important link in the regional trade, cultural, playing the role of a connecting bridge for Central and the rest of the world.

Why is it imperative now for India to engage with the Taliban?

• Taliban is now having a significant presence in Afghanistan.
• India is already having huge investment in Afghanistan, To secure assets worth $3 billion, India should engage with all parties in Afghanistan.
• Taliban engaging with Pak deep state will not be in India’s best interest.
• If India does not engage now Russia, Iran, Pakistan and China will emerge as the shapers of Afghanistan’s political and geopolitical destiny, which for sure will be detrimental to Indian interests.
• The U.S. has announced a new, surprise formation of a “Quad” on regional connectivity — U.S.-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan that does not include India.
• India’s effort to trade with Afghanistan Via Chabahar port in order to increase the economy on scale.

Need of the hour:

• Urgent need to collectively act for the safety of Afghan civilians by checking violence by Taliban
• Afghanistan should be given enough space in Central Asian architectures like SCO(Shanghai cooperation organisation)
• The USA,Iran,China,and Russia should actively involve India to maintain stability in Afghanistan.
• Unified action for the refugee crisis if it arises.
• Indian engagement with Taliban to maintain peace with immediate neighbours.