Indians in Afghanistan
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There used to be a small community of Indians in Afghanistan who are Afghans of Indian origin as well as Indian construction and aid workers involved in rebuilding and humanitarian assistance efforts. India is often described as acting as a soft power in Afghanistan. Having committed a $2.3 billion aid programme, India is one of the largest donors to Afghanistan, investing in the economy, humanitarian aid, education, development, construction and electrical.[1] According to Foreign Policy among Afghans there is a positive perception of India's role in the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.[2]
All Indians in Afghanistan have either returned or were evacuated during Operation Devi Shakti, after the 2021 Taliban offensive and the subsequent Fall of Kabul.
History
Afghanistan and the
Migration of Hindu community to Afghanistan was mainly from the neighbouring kingdom of Punjab, later a province of
The
As of 1990, the population of Afghans of Indian origin was estimated at 45,000, mostly descended from migrants from the
Indian aid to Afghanistan
India has no military presence in Afghanistan.[8][9][10] An estimated 3,000 Indian nationals in Afghanistan worked for reconstruction companies, international aid agencies or diplomats working at the consulates and embassies.[8]
As part of its humanitarian mission, India established field clinics and a children's hospital. It also ran a programme providing midday-meals to about 2 million Afghan school children.[8]
In the construction sector, an important work constructed by Indians is the 217 kilometre
The government of India also provided assistance in strengthening institutions and human resource development. Scholarships were provided in 2009 for 700 Afghan citizens while Afghan public servants were granted access to government training institutions in India for periods ranging from days to six months.[13] The Indian government furthermore provides scholarships to more than 1,000 Afghan students per year.[citation needed]
According to Foreign Policy, which analysed perceptions about India especially among Pashtuns from Kabul to Kandahar, "the widespread support in the Pashtun heartland for an even greater Indian role in rebuilding the Afghan economy and society" is "striking".[2] In 2011 India and Afghanistan signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement which would allow India to train and equip Afghan security forces.[14][15]
Attacks on Indians
Since 2008 , Indian civilians and diplomatic buildings have been a target of numerous deadly terrorist attacks. Most of these attacks are carried out by Pakistan based-terrorist groups.
In 2008,
International officials believe, Pakistan's
In 2009, a second attack on the Indian embassy killed 17 people.
In 2010, six Indian construction workers and several Indian doctors were killed in terrorist attacks on two Kabul guesthouses often frequented by Indians. Saeed Ansari, the spokesman for Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, said the militants who attacked the Indian guesthouse were speaking Urdu, Pakistan's official language.[20] "We are very close to the exact proof and evidence that the attack on the Indian guesthouse ... was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba network, who are dependent on the Pakistan military."[20][26]
In 2019, 4 Indian nationals were kidnapped by Haqqani network. However, they were rescued in a special exfiltration operation was undertaken by R&AW.[27]
See also
- Afghanistan-India relations
- Afghans in India
- Hinduism in Afghanistan
- Pakistanis in Afghanistan
- Sikhism in Afghanistan
- Punjabis in Afghanistan
References
- ^ "Indian and Afghan Leaders Forge Deeper Ties in Meeting (Published 2011)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06.
- ^ a b Indian-Afghan strategic partnership: perceptions from the ground
- ISBN 978-0-226-58611-3. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Gandhara," accessed January 13, 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/225179/Gandhara.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8047-7411-6. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Indian Diaspora (Chapter 2) – Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ISBN 978-0-231-05072-2. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Thottam, Jyothi (11 April 2011). "Afghanistan: India's Uncertain Road". Time Magazine World 9online). Time Inc. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
- ^ QADRI, MUSTAFA (4 February 2010). "Should we talk to the Taliban?". ABC.
- ^ Raza, Maroof (25 October 2011). "The Quagmire Next Door". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
... any Indian military presence in Afghanistan will only add to Pakistan's anti-India hysteria of a two-front threat.
- ISBN 978-1-58906-324-2. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-7397-6603-3. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Malhotra, Jyoti (Oct 9, 2009). "'In Afghanistan, Indians are praised simply for being Indian' – Q&A: Jayant Prasad, Indian ambassador to Afghanistan". Business-Standard (online). Business Standard Ltd. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
- ^ SCHMIDT, JOHN R. (October 18, 2011). "Pakistan's Alternate Universe". FOREIGN POLICY.
- ^ HEALY, JACK; ALISSA J. RUBIN (October 4, 2011). "Afghanistan Favors India and Denigrates Pakistan". New York Times.
- ^ a b c d Karzai Accuses Pakistan Of Being Behind Indian Embassy Bombing
- ^ ISI behind Mumbai attacks, bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul: BBC report
- ^ a b c d Kabul car blast kills 41, including Indian envoys
- ^ a b c "17 Die in Kabul Bomb Attack (Published 2009)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27.
- ^ a b c "Kabul blames Pakistani militants for attack on Indians". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-05-20.
- ^ "The Spy Who Quit". PBS. 2011.
- ^ Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt (1 Aug 2008). "Pakistanis Aided Attack in Kabul, U.S. Officials Say". New York Times.
- ^ Christina Lamb (3 Aug 2008). "Rogue Pakistan spies aid Taliban in Afghanistan (Times Online)]". The Times of London.
- ^ "Pakistan condemns US claims of involvement in Kabul Indian embassy bombing". The Guardian. 2008-08-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-24.
- ^ Admiral Mullen: Pakistani ISI sponsoring Haqqani attacks
- ^ Afghan intelligence ties Pakiistani group Lashkar-i-Taiba to recent Kabul attack
- ^ "Agencies rescue Indians abducted in Afghan". Sunday Guardian. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
External links
- "Terrorist Attacks on Indians in Afghanistan". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi. Retrieved 18 January 2012.