THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 26 September 2019 (Another chance in Afghanistan (Live Mint))

Another chance in Afghanistan (Live Mint)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Taliban peace talks

Context

•  The discontinuation of talks between the US and the Taliban has brought hope for providing a second chance to handle the issue.
•  The US troops deployed in Afghanistan are also to be removed. This has various implications on Afghanistan and India which can be understood as follows.

Implications on Afghanistan:

•  This may entail more Taliban attacks in Afghanistan.
•  The government is determined to go ahead with the elections though there is stiff resistance from the Taliban.
•  The Taliban claims that it has changed its domestic behaviour but this claim is uncertain.

Implications on India:

•  If the decision of the removal of US troops was accompanied by the Taliban signing the deal of with the US to minimize internal attacks on Afghanistan, then the focus of the Taliban could shift to external attacks making India vulnerable.
•  But now as there is no deal, internal attacks are greater and there is less chance for Pakistan to take the help of the Taliban for attacks against India.
•  If the deal was materialised between the US and the Taliban driving US troops out of Afghanistan it could encourage anti-national Kashmiri youth to take up arms against India.

Way Forward

•  There is a need for India to negotiate with the Taliban not to recognise it but in its own national interest as done by China, Russia etc.

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Which among the following countries hosted the EXERCISE KAKAD, a multilateral regional maritime engagement?
a. Singapore
b. Srilanka
c. India
d. Australia

Answer: D
Mains Questions:
Q.1) To what extent Donald Trump’s calling off Taliban peace talks is to India’s advantage. Critically analyse.