Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist September 2019 | Page 42

SPOTLIGHT The largest democracy in the world has played an active role in the Afghan reconstruction process by building the Afghan parliament building and contributing to the promotion of democratic values. It has also helped to strengthen Afghanistan’s democratic foundations and civil society. could save Afghanistan from oblivion. The Afghans’ tendency to democracy and nation-building has made tangible and credible independence for them. For the first time, democratic elections were held and the members of the Afghan parliament and the president were elected by the will of the people. Afghanistan’s foreign policy was also influenced by the support of the international community. It has established friendly relations with the countries of the region and the world. Although Afghanistan’s Democratization Process has met the widespread challenges of insecurity since 2006 when Taliban started reinvigorating, the international community, with its support, has so far kept Afghanistan hopeful in order to keep up the gains that it has achieved in the last 18 years. International community assistance provided the foundations of democracy in a country where hope for people’s access to individual and social rights and freedom disappeared in the Taliban regime in the late 1990s. The Taliban have long regarded the US military presence and allies in conflict with independence of Afghanistan and calling for the withdrawal of the troops. Contrary to this claim, it can be said that in the era of globalization and interdependence, the Golden Age of Afghanistan’s independence is after 9/11. Of course, the centenary of Afghanistan’s independence faces two major events consisting of the September 28, 2019 presidential election and intensive peace talks with Taliban that can put Afghanistan’s fate back on track with another inflated crisis and consequently the people of Afghanistan will go through difficult days once again. In Afghanistan’s foreign relations, although the United States has been Afghanistan’s most important strategic partner in recent years and its military and financial assistance to combat terrorism and support the Afghan central government has been critical, it would be significant to take into consideration the central role of India as Afghanistan’s strategic friend. India and Afghanistan’s independence In Afghanistan, no country is considered as intimate and friendly as India among Afghan people. Generous contributions to the nation-building process and active public diplomacy of India have kept this country a strategic ally for Afghanistan. However, it has been difficult for the foreign policy apparatus of Afghanistan to establish relations with two regional rivals India and Pakistan. Particularly in the last 18 years, India’s importance to Afghanistan goes back to a variety of services and aids that include not only the military but also the economic, social and cultural aspects. The largest democracy in the world has played an active role in the Afghan reconstruction process by building the Afghan parliament building and contributing to the promotion of democratic values. It has also helped to strengthen Afghanistan’s democratic foundations and civil society. In this respect, India has played an important role in Afghanistan. Despite the fact that the people of Afghanistan have not been able to experience tangible independence because of insecurity and sustained challenges and destabilization has changed their lives, they have been able to make significant gains in institutionalizing democratic values with the help of countries such as India. Therefore, it is unlikely that the people of Afghanistan abandon these vital democratic values even after the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan’s public and political arena. Afghan people look forward to the cooperation of the international community at a critical historical juncture to transit to a stable political system. n * Author is a Ph.D. in International Relations and Vice- Chancellor for academic affairs at Kateb University in Kabul, Afghanistan, can be reached at [email protected] 42 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 9 • September 2019, Noida