Afghans question credibility of India’s Foreign Minister’s claims on people-to-people ties: Afghan Journalist

In response to India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s recent assertions on the foundational role of people-to-people connections in India’s relationship with Afghanistan, many Afghans express skepticism and disappointment, perceiving these claims as lacking substantive support.

Jaishankar emphasized India’s commitment to fostering bilateral ties through humanitarian aid, highlighting contributions such as food, essential medicines, and pesticides to alleviate Afghan challenges. He underscored historical ties as the cornerstone of these relations and reiterated India’s proactive stance at international forums like the SCO, addressing Afghanistan’s developmental and capacity-building needs.

However, the perspectives from Afghanistan present a contrasting view. Bilal Sarwary, a prominent Afghan journalist, says, “Over 3,000 Afghan students, legitimate enrollees in Indian universities, continue to wait for their visas to complete their studies. Do they have no future? Why are they denied visas if people-to-people connections are so foundational?”

The absence of visas for Afghan patients since 2021 contradicts India’s proclaimed humanitarian assistance ethos. Furthermore, India’s contribution of 50,000 tons of wheat over three years falls short of Afghanistan’s weekly food needs amidst deepening economic hardship.

Sarwary continued his critique, highlighting, “For almost two decades, over 60,000 Afghan patients sought medical treatment in India annually. Since 2021, no visas have been issued to Afghan patients. Where is the humanitarian assistance that India professes to offer under its neighborhood first policy?”

He also pointed out, “India’s contribution of 50,000 tons of wheat assistance in 3 years falls short when the weekly need is over 100,000 tons in the country. Has this truly alleviated the worst humanitarian crisis in the world in India’s neighborhood?”

Furthermore, Bilal Sarwary, an Afghan journalist, stated, “Trade between the two countries has significantly decreased given strict restrictions on Afghan imports. How does this align with the claims of strong bilateral relations? he continued, “Many Afghans feel neglected, seeing themselves as casualties in Indo-Pak rivalries, amid allegations of Afghan lives lost due to ISI hostility towards Indian affiliations.”

Afghans feel abandoned by India, which they perceive as having disregarded them as if they never existed. It is saddening to say, but many believe that India can never be a trusted partner, given its recurrent pattern of disengagement whenever there is a change in Kabul, he stated.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar reaffirms India’s enduring commitment to Afghanistan’s stability and socio-economic development. Yet, Afghan sentiment reveals a profound sense of disillusionment and abandonment.

As Afghanistan navigates uncertain times, the expectations of its people for meaningful support and sustained engagement from international partners, including India, remain high, demanding more than rhetorical assurances to rebuild trust and foster genuine bilateral cooperation.

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