Maarg Manthan · Topic 2.7

India-Afghanistan Relations: Reconstruction Assistance, Chabahar Port Access

International Relations & Places in News › India and Its Neighbourhood · Topic 2.7

India-Afghanistan relations are based on historical and cultural links and on India's development assistance, which has included the Zaranj-Delaram highway, the Afghan Parliament building and the Salma Dam. After the Taliban takeover in August 2021 India withdrew its staff, but it kept a humanitarian role and in October 2025 upgraded its Kabul technical mission to a full embassy. India has not formally recognised the Taliban government, and trade depends on routes such as Chabahar.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · International Relations · India and Its Neighbourhood

At a Glance

Indian projects Zaranj-Delaram highway, Salma Dam, Parliament building
2021 Taliban takeover; India withdrew staff
October 2025 Kabul technical mission upgraded to an embassy
Trade More than 1 billion dollars in 2024, per Taliban minister
Route Chabahar port in Iran
Exam link UPSC Prelims, International Relations: India and Its Neighbourhood

Where Does It Fit?

This is the seventh topic of the macro on India and its neighbourhood. Afghanistan has no border with India that is under Indian control, but its stability matters for India’s security and for access to Central Asia. Previous topic: India-Myanmar Relations: Act East Policy, Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project. Next topic: India-Maldives Relations: India Out Campaign, Neighbourhood First Policy.

What Is India’s Development Role in Afghanistan?

Zaranj-Delaram highway: a road of about 218 km completed in 2009 to give Afghanistan access to Iran’s ports, including Chabahar.
Salma Dam: the Afghan-India Friendship Dam on the Hari Rud river in Herat province, inaugurated in 2016, generates hydropower and supports irrigation.
Parliament building: India built the Afghan Parliament in Kabul, inaugurated in 2015.
Other assistance: India supports schools, health services, scholarships and electricity lines such as the Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul transmission link, and has sent wheat, medicines and vaccines in recent years.
People: many Afghans study and receive medical care in India.

India’s total commitment in development projects has been around 3 billion US dollars over two decades, which makes it among the largest regional donors.

What Has Changed Since 2021?

Stage	Development
August 2021	The Taliban took power, and India withdrew its embassy staff and suspended most projects
Humanitarian role	India continued to send aid and later set up a small technical team in Kabul in 2022 to coordinate it
October 2025	Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India, and India upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, four years after the withdrawal. Analysts note that this does not equal formal recognition of the Taliban government. Kabul said it would send diplomats to New Delhi
Economy	The minister said trade between the two was more than 1 billion dollars in 2024. The talks covered Indian interest in mining, and revival of the TAPI gas pipeline project, which would carry gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India
Chabahar	India uses the Chabahar port in Iran as a route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, but the US sanctions waiver for the project ended on 26 April 2026, and India reportedly withdrew staff, prepaid a 120 million dollar commitment and considered transferring its stake. An October 2026 report said Iran might offer 100 hectares at Chabahar to Afghanistan for imports and transit, though an Iranian official later said no transfer of sovereignty was intended
Pakistan	The Taliban government is reported to be offsetting losses from closed Pakistani crossings by using other routes and expanding trade with Central Asia

The Chabahar project is discussed in India-Iran Relations: Chabahar Port, INSTC Corridor.

What Are the Challenges and India’s Approach?

Recognition: India engages the Taliban practically but has not given formal recognition, and no country except one has done so. International sanctions and the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls limit engagement.
Security: India is concerned that terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and groups that attack India might use Afghan territory.
Connectivity: India has no direct land access, and its trade depends on Iran’s Chabahar route and air corridors.
Pakistan factor: Pakistan’s closed crossings and disputes with the Taliban create both openings and risks for India.
Great powers: China, Russia and Central Asian states are building their ties with Kabul.

As an analytical point, India has moved from supporting a particular government to supporting the Afghan people and protecting its own security interests. The Taliban also wants Indian investment and international legitimacy, which gives both sides a reason to talk. The pace of engagement depends on whether the Taliban deliver on counter-terrorism assurances and on how the sanctions and Iran routes evolve.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Projects Dam and highway asked
Route Chabahar dependence
Approach Engage without recognition

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Maldives, India’s island neighbour in the Indian Ocean. Next topic: India-Maldives Relations: India Out Campaign, Neighbourhood First Policy.

Key People and Terms

Zaranj-Delaram Indian-built Afghan highway
Salma Dam Afghan-India Friendship Dam
TAPI Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline
Technical mission Small diplomatic office below embassy
Non-recognition Not accepting a government as legitimate
Wakhan Corridor Narrow Afghan strip touching China

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Taliban took over in August 2021.
Kabul embassy upgraded in October 2025.
Salma Dam is on the Hari Rud river in Herat.
Zaranj-Delaram highway completed in 2009.
US Chabahar waiver ended on 26 April 2026.

Do Not Confuse With

Embassy upgrade and recognition Diplomatic presence versus formal acceptance of government
TAPI and IPI Pipeline from Turkmenistan versus from Iran
Hari Rud and Helmand Rivers of Herat versus southern Afghanistan

Memory Hook

Zaranj road, Salma dam, Parliament in Kabul; twenty-one withdrew, twenty-five returned, Chabahar is the gate.

Mains Angle

Questions ask whether India should engage the Taliban. These points add depth.

Interest Security and access
Method Engage without recognition
Risk Sanctions and Pakistan

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss India’s changing approach to Afghanistan since 2021 and the factors shaping its engagement with the Taliban.”

How to Answer

Past role Development projects.
Change Withdrawal and return.
Factors Security, Chabahar, Pakistan.
Way forward Calibrated engagement.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Indian projects in Afghanistan, Chabahar, TAPI, Wakhan Corridor, Durand Line. GS Paper 2: India and its neighbourhood; extended neighbourhood; India's approach to non-recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has India built in Afghanistan?

India built the Zaranj-Delaram highway completed in 2009, the Afghan-India Friendship Dam at Salma on the Hari Rud river inaugurated in 2016 and the Afghan Parliament building opened in 2015. It also funded power lines, schools, clinics and training programmes.

Did India recognise the Taliban government?

India has not formally recognised the Taliban government. After the takeover in August 2021 it withdrew staff, but in October 2025 it upgraded its Kabul technical mission to a full embassy, which reflects practical engagement and not formal recognition.

Why is Chabahar important for India and Afghanistan?

The Chabahar port in Iran gives India a sea and land route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that avoids Pakistan. India invested in the Shahid Beheshti Terminal, but the US sanctions waiver for it ended on 26 April 2026, which put the project's future in question.

What is TAPI?

TAPI is the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project that would carry Turkmen gas to South Asia. It was revived in discussions between India and the Taliban in October 2025, though security and political risks still hold back progress.

How does Pakistan affect India-Afghanistan ties?

Pakistan's closure of border crossings with Afghanistan and its tensions with the Taliban government have pushed Kabul to look for other trade routes and partners, including India and Central Asia. India's own closed border with Pakistan means that overland trade through Wagah is not available.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Salma Dam is located on the Hari Rud river in Herat.

True

It is called the Afghan-India Friendship Dam.

2 India has formally recognised the Taliban government.

False

It has engaged but not recognised it.

3 India upgraded its Kabul mission to an embassy in October 2025.