Modern India’s diplomatic ties with Afghanistan were officially instituted in 1950 with the signing of five-year Treaty of Friendship between two countries. But relations between the people of these countries are civilizational, and based on extensive cultural exchange. The iconic short story “Kabuliwallah” by Tagore and the interpretations on the land beyond mountains and imaginations have shaped the relations between two countries from the past to the present.  “Bound by thousand ties and million memories”, the relations between the two countries go beyond the traditionally state-to-state relations or government. History, culture, civilization and people to people contact have created commonalities thus making the past history the guide to the future. In modern times, India-Afghanistan relations have been further strengthened by the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed between the two countries in October 2011.

The historic linkages are recorded from the Indus Valley Civilisation. During the Mauryan period (post Seleucid-Mauryan war in 305 BCE) in the area south of the Hindu Kush mountain range, Hinduism and Buddhism flourished. Until the arrival of Islam in 07th Century, Afghans had strong influence of Hinduism and Buddhism. Between 10th Century to mid-18th Century, north India was invaded by the Islamic invaders based in Afghanistan, including Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Khaljis, Suris, Mughals, and Durranis. During Mughal period in India (1526-1858), several Afghans migrated to India due to political unrest in their respective provinces/regions.[ii]

In modern times, India-Afghanistan relations have been further strengthened by the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed between the two countries in October 2011.[iii]

Bilaterally, India has played significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. India’s extensive development assistance program, which now stands at more than USD 3 billion, is a strong signal for its abiding commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan during this critical period of security and governance transition.[iv]

Head of State:
President
Smt. Droupadi Murmu[v]

Head of Government:
Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi[vi]

Visit of Prime Minister to Afghanistan (June 4, 2016)[ix]

Visit of Prime Minister to Afghanistan (December 24, 2015)[x]

President’s Visits :

Working Visit of President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India (October 24, 2017)[xi]

Working Visit of President of Afghanistan to India (September 14-15, 2016)[xii]

State Visit of President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India (April 27-29, 2015)[xiii]
 
Vice President’s Visits  

Visit of Second Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India (December 9-13, 2017)[xiv]  

Chief Executive’s Visit’s  

Visit of Chief Executive of Afghanistan to India (September 27-29, 2017)[xv]

Visit of Chief Executive Officer and Head of the Council of the Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India (31st January to 4thFebruary 2016 )[xvi]

Treaty of Friendship 1950[xvii]

India- Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement 2011[xviii]

• Agreement between India And Afghanistan On Judicial And Civil And Commercial Matters For The Service Of Summons, Judicial Documents, Commission, Execution Of Judgments And Arbitral Awards Afghanistan 15.04.2019 Ministry of Law and Justice.[xiv]     

• Motor Vehicles Agreement For The Regulation Of Passenger, Personal And Cargo Vehicular Traffic Between India And Afghanistan Afghanistan 11-09-2017 Not Ratified Yet Ministry Of Road Transport And Highways[xx]

• Bilateral Agreement Between India And Afghanistan Related To Orbit Frequency Coordination Of ‘South Asia Satellite’ Proposed At 97.3E Afghanistan 11-09-2017 11-09-2017 Department Of Space[xxi]

• Agreement Between India And Afghanistan On Juridical And Judicial Cooperation In Civil And Commercial Matters For The Service Of Summons, Judicial Documents, Commission, Execution Of Judgments And Arbitral Awards Afghanistan 14-09-2016 Ministry of Law & Justice[iv]

• Agreement Between India And Afghanistan On Exemption From Visa Requirement For Holders Of Diplomatic Passports Afghanistan 01-02-2016 Ministry of External Affairs[xxii]

• Extradition Treaty Between India And Afghanistan 14-09-2016 Ministry of Home Affairs[xxiii]

• Trilateral: Agreement On The Establishment of an International Transport And The Transit Corridor Among The Governments Of The Republic Of India, The Islamic Republic Of Afghanistan And The Islamic Republic Of Iran (Chabahar Agreement) Trilateral (India, Afghanistan & Iran) 23 May 2016, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways; and Ministry of Shipping; Ministry of External Affairs[xxiv] 

• MoU for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan ,9 February 2021[xxv]

• 5 MoUs under HICDPs (High impact community development projects ) in Kabul, 05th July, 2020[xxvi]

• Mou Between The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, Directorate General Of Health Services (Cdsco/Dghs), India And National Medicine And Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority Of Afghanistan For Mutual Cooperation Afghanistan 11-09-2017 Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare[xxvii]

• Mou Between India And Afghanistan On Cooperation In The Peaceful Uses Of Outer Space Afghanistan 14-09-2016, Department Of Space [xxviii]

• Mou Of Technical Cooperation On Police Training And Development Between India And Afghanistan Afghanistan 28-09-2017 Ministry Of External Affairs[xxix]

• MoU Between India And Afghanistan On Cooperation In The Peaceful Uses Of Outer Space Afghanistan 14-09-2016 Department of Space[xxx]

• MoU Between Indian Council Of Agriculture Research And Afghan National Agricultural Sciences And Technology University For Cooperation In Agriculture Research And Education Afghanistan 21-04-2016 Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare[xxxi]

• MoU between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan and the Ministry of Textile of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the field of Textiles, Clothing, Investment, Compliance and Skill Development, 7 January, 2015[xxxii]

Joint Working Group on Political and Security Consultations[xxxiii]

Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation[xxxiv]

Joint Working Group on Capacity Development and Education[xxxiv]

Joint Working Group on Social, Cultural and Civil Society[xxxv]

Joint Working Group on Development Cooperation[xxxvi]

Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce[xxxvii]

[xxxviii][xxxix]

Aid Extended to Afghanistan as per Union Budget of India from 2008-2017.

2008-09:  ₹360.00Crores[xl]

2009-10: ₹223.40 Crores[xli]

2010-11: ₹349.75 Crores[xlii]

2011-12: ₹326.61 Crores[xliii]

2012-13: ₹490.96 Crores[xliv]

2013-14: ₹585.31 Crores[xlv]

2014-15: ₹723.52 Crores[xlvi]

2015-16: ₹880.44 Crores[xlvii]

2016-17: ₹263.02 Crores[xlviii]

2017-18: ₹365.96 Crores[xlix]

2018-19: ₹325.00 Crores [l]

2019-20: ₹ 325.00 Crores (Budget estimates)[li]

2020-21: ₹348.82 Crores (Budget estimates)[lii]

2021-22: ₹ 200.00 Crores- Revised estimates[liii]

2022-23: ₹200.00 Crores- Revised estimates[liv]

On 15 August 2021 the Taliban captured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was the culmination of a military offensive that began in May 2021 against the Afghan government. Most of the provincial capitals of Afghanistan had fallen one after the other amid a U.S. troop withdrawal to be completed by 31 August 2021.As far the recognition of Taliban led government in Afghanistan is concerned India continues with its wait and watch policy[lv].

However India is at forefront in providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

India decided to extend humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. In this endeavor, India has already dispatched several shipments of humanitarian assistance consisting of 20,000 MTs of wheat, 13 tons of medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID Vaccine and winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul and UN specialized agencies including WHO and WFP. Furthermore, India is in the process of shipping more medical assistance and foodgrains to Afghanistan.

In continuation with India’s developmental partnership with Afghan brethren, India has gifted one million doses of India-made COVAXIN to Iran to administer to Afghan refugees in Iran. We have also assisted UNICEF by supplying almost 60 million doses of polio vaccine and two tons of essential medicines[lvi].

Minister Of External Affairs India
Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar[lvii]

Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan
Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon[lviii]

JS[PAI], Ministry of External Affairs
J P Singhl[lix]

Minister of Foreign Affairs Afghanistan

Mawlawi Amirkhan
Muttaqi[lx]

Mawlawi Amir Khan
Muttaqi has been serving as the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since September 7, 2022