New Delhi: A fresh phase of geopolitical competition appears to be taking shape in Afghanistan, with India emerging as a central participant in what observers describe as a modern iteration of the historic “Great Game.” The original contest—waged between Britain and Russia for dominance over Central Asia—ran from 1830 until the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. Through most of the 20th and early 21st centuries, control and influence in the region largely oscillated between Russia and the United States.
India’s growing involvement, however, differs fundamentally from the military-led interventions of its predecessors. New Delhi has long maintained that its role in Afghanistan is rooted in development cooperation, humanitarian support, and the endorsement of the Afghan people. Its interactions, including with the Taliban authorities, have been conducted without deploying military force.
Despite not formally recognizing the Taliban government, India has recently strengthened diplomatic engagement. A key signal of this shift was New Delhi’s decision to upgrade its presence in Kabul from a technical mission to a full embassy. This move reflected a deliberate recalibration of bilateral relations and marked a significant diplomatic step forward.
The shift gained momentum when Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, visited India—New Delhi’s first direct, high-level interaction with the Taliban-led administration since 2021. His reception underscored India’s intention to safeguard its strategic interests through dialogue rather than distance. According to officials, both sides reaffirmed respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Afghanistan reiterated its commitment to preventing its soil from being used against India.
Economic cooperation also featured prominently in the renewed engagement. India and Afghanistan expressed support for expanding bilateral trade, including the India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor, designed to enhance direct commercial connectivity. New Delhi’s well-established development footprint in Afghanistan remains a cornerstone of the relationship. Over the years, India has invested in critical infrastructure, including hospitals, power projects, the Zaranj-Delaram highway, and Afghanistan’s Parliament building. One of the most notable initiatives—the Salma Dam, now known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam—was jointly inaugurated in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-President Ashraf Ghani. India has also been a key provider of humanitarian assistance, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strategically, India’s evolving ties with Afghanistan must be viewed against the backdrop of its complex relationship with Pakistan. With tensions rising between Islamabad and Kabul, Afghanistan’s relevance to India’s regional calculus has increased. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently referred to Afghanistan as a “contiguous neighbour,” a remark widely interpreted as a pointed reference to India’s claim over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). India and Afghanistan share no operational land border today, as the territory that once linked them lies within POK, under what India calls Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
In practical terms, the Wakhan Corridor—a narrow 106-kilometre strip of high-altitude land bounded by POK, Tajikistan, and China’s Xinjiang province—remains the only direct geographic link between India and Afghanistan, and onward to Central Asia. As Afghanistan sits atop an estimated three trillion USD in mineral resources, the corridor holds renewed significance as a potential transit route for India that bypasses Pakistan entirely.
The once-inactive Wakhan Corridor, a crucial zone during the 19th-century Great Game, is again drawing attention. India’s diplomatic re-entry into Afghanistan gives it a vantage point that could reduce Pakistan’s influence while placing New Delhi more firmly in regional strategic calculations. China, meanwhile, has been expanding its footprint in Central Asia and has sought to draw Afghanistan into its Belt and Road Initiative. India’s deeper engagement could reshape these regional dynamics.
Though the Wakhan Corridor may appear minor on the map, its strategic weight is substantial. It offers India a land link to Afghanistan and Central Asia, strengthens New Delhi’s efforts to limit Pakistan’s leverage, and counters China’s growing regional presence.
As this new geopolitical phase unfolds, Afghanistan appears once again at the center of a broader strategic contest. This time, however, India is positioned as the principal player—backed by diplomatic outreach, public goodwill, and sustained development and humanitarian engagement.
