India’s Strategic Dilemma: Why Joining Russia’s Quad Might Be Derailed by Two Adversarial Forces
Moscow has established a new international coalition called the “Afghanistan Quad,” similar to the US-led Quad, aimed at fostering regional cooperation on Afghanistan’s future. This new alliance includes Iran, Pakistan, and China. Russia has extended an invitation to India to join, but there are significant concerns due to the involvement of Pakistan and China, nations India has strained relations with. This potential conflict of interest poses a challenge to India’s strategic goals.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed hopes for India’s participation, advocating for it as a positive step for Afghanistan’s future. However, experts, such as Kabir Taneja of the Observer Research Foundation, highlight Pakistan’s inclusion as a critical obstacle for India. Recently, the Afghan Quad gathered at the UN General Assembly, underscoring the complexities involving regional tensions, particularly between the Taliban and Pakistan. Former allies, Pakistan and the Taliban have seen ties deteriorate, with recent border clashes heightening hostilities. This fragile relationship, along with the ongoing presence of extremist factions like Islamic State-Khorasan and al-Qaeda since the US’s 2021 withdrawal, continues to pose security threats in the region.
India has historically engaged closely with Russia concerning Afghanistan, especially as Western powers reduce their involvement post-US withdrawal. Transitioning diplomatic dynamics might encourage India to consider Moscow’s proposal more seriously, yet the geopolitical implications of associating with China and Pakistan remain problematic.
In parallel, India is slowly re-establishing connections with Afghanistan’s Taliban government to regain its influence after substantial investments faltered with the Taliban’s return to power. Recent discussions between Delhi and Kabul have focused on boosting trade and leveraging Iran’s Chabahar port to navigate around Pakistan’s Chinese-supported ports.
Despite shared regional security interests, India’s strategic hesitations persist, as aligning with adversarial nations could prove challenging to its broader geopolitical objectives.
Original Source: https://www.india.com/news/india/india-may-not-join-russias-quad-due-to-the-presence-of-two-enemies-they-are-7571651/
Category : India,Afghanistan Quad,china,Pakistan
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Publish Date: 2025-01-28 00:43:00
