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| {{Infobox ethnic group | |||
| |group = Indians in Afghanistan | |||
| |image = | |||
| |caption = Indian Prime Minister Singh in Kabul | |||
| |poptime = 3,000–4,000 | |||
| |popplace = ]{{·}} ] | |||
| |langs = ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ] <small>(])</small>{{·}} ]{{·}} other ] | |||
| |rels = ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Indians in Afghanistan''' include Afghans of Indian origin as well as Indian construction and aid workers involved in rebuilding and humanitarian assistance efforts. India is often described as acting as a soft power in Afghanistan. Having committed a $2.3 billion aid program, India is one of the largest donors to Afghanistan, investing in the economy, humanitarian aid, education, development, construction and electrical projects.<ref></ref> According to '']'' among Afghans there is a positive perception of India's role in the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.<ref name="foreignpolicy1"></ref> | |||
| Indian nationals in Afghanistan have become the target of the ] ] and the Pakistani ] terrorist organizations, both widely believed to receive strong support of Pakistan's ], which Pakistan denies.<ref name="nytimes1"/><ref name="telegraph1"/><ref name="PBS1">{{cite web |year=2011|url =http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/2011/01/video-amrullah-saleh-spy-who-quit.html#ixzz1iW6uh3i8|title =The Spy Who Quit| publisher = PBS}}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{cite news| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world/asia/01pstan.html| title = Pakistanis Aided Attack in Kabul, U.S. Officials Say| author=Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt| date = 1 Aug 2008| publisher=New York Times}}</ref><ref name="rferl1"/><ref></ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ] from ], now in the Kabul museum.]] | |||
| Afghanistan and the ] were historically and ethnically linked in earlier times. An edict of the ] emperor ] has been found in ], marking the western extent of his dominion.<ref name="Magadha)Nikam1978">{{cite book|last1=Aśoka (King of Magadha)|first1=|last2=Nikam|first2=Narayanrao Appurao|title=The Edicts of Asoka|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=02_uHimEXwQC&pg=PA20|accessdate=13 January 2012|date=15 October 1978|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-58611-3|pages=20–21}}</ref> The ] of ] extended from the Kabul river to the Punjab, comprising Hindu and Buddhist dynasties, and lasted a thousand years till the 11th Century AD when it was overthrown by the Ghaznavids.<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Gandhara," accessed January 13, 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/225179/Gandhara. </ref> Trade ties with Afghanistan go back hundreds of years with trade blooming during the reign of the ] in India with their fondness for fruit and other produce from Central Asia.<ref name="Hanifi2011">{{cite book|author=Shah Mahmoud Hanifi|title=Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=kh1hpPLSpcEC&pg=PT95|accessdate=11 January 2012|date=11 February 2011|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=978-0-8047-7411-6|pages=95–102|chapter=Financing the Kabul Produce}}</ref> | |||
| Migration of Hindu community to Afghanistan was mainly from the neighbouring kingdom of Punjab, later a province of ].<ref name="NIC"></ref> By the nineteenth century a large Hindu community, comprising ethnic groups such as Lohanis and Shikarpuri Khatris, was widespread throughout the region and tribes and concerned primarily with commerce. A city peopled by ] Hindus, Shikarpur, was established in the 1800s and rose to be one of Afghanistan's main centres of commerce – primarily a money market and banking centre, which had outlying partnerships with places as widely apart as "], ], ], ], parts of ] and ]". They eventually developed control of the banking throughout Central Asia ranging from "] to Meshid to ]" (vide ]).<ref name="Hanifi2011"/> Known by the local epithet of '']s'', they spoke a variant of ], gained employment in financial and clerical posts throughout the region, were shopkeepers, grain merchants, money-lenders and goldsmiths, forming a vital part of the economy of the region.<ref name="Hanifi2011"/> Shah Shuja employed as his finance minister, Lalla Jeth Mall, a Khatri Hindu from Shikarpur.<ref name="Hanifi2011"/> Barnes records that the population of Hindkis in Afghanistan at that time to be about 300,000.<ref name="Hanifi2011"/> | |||
| The ] of 1920 saw a spontaneous migration of Indian Muslims to be free of perceived British bondage of Islam by emigrating to neighbouring Afghanistan. Encouraged by their religious leaders, thousands of peoples sold their belongings and migrated to Afghanistan choking the Khyber Pass with their possessions on bullock cart, camel and cycles. Overwhelmed by the migration, the Amir of Afghanistan blocked the emigration. Large numbers of ''muhajirin'' were robbed by Afghan tribes, and died of heat, thirst and hunger. Thousands returned home destitute.<ref name="Minault1982">{{cite book|last=Minault|first=Gail|title=The Khilafat movement: religious symbolism and political mobilization in India|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gAW8GreFqjkC&pg=PA106|accessdate=11 January 2012|year=1982|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-05072-2|pages=105–106}}</ref> | |||
| As of 1990, the population of Afghans of Indian origin was estimated at 45,000, mostly descended from migrants from the ]. They settled down in various parts of Afghanistan, particularly Jalalabad and Kabul.<ref name="NIC"/> Many left Afghanistan after the ] came to power in 1996, mainly due to harsh restrictions imposed on them, leaving a population of approximately 1,000, mainly based in ] and ].<ref name="NIC"/> India did not have any official representation in Afghanistan while the Taliban were in power. The small Hindu and Sikh communities suffered harsh discrimination during that period.<ref name="NIC"/> In April 2001, the Taliban issued an edict requiring Hindu males to wear marks of red dots (tilak) on their forehead, were barred from wearing ''salwar kameez'' or white turban and forced to wear black caps as identification when leaving their homes.<ref name="NIC"/> Hindu women were forced to drape themselves in yellow dress and wear iron necklace.<ref name="NIC"/> Hindus also were ordered to display a yellow flag on their houses and were not allowed to reside in the same houses as Muslims.<ref name="NIC"/> | |||
| ==Indian aid to Afghanistan== | ==Indian aid to Afghanistan== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
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| As part of its humanitarian mission, India established field clinics and a children's hospital. It also runs a program providing midday-meals to about 2 million Afghan schoolchildren.<ref name="Thottam2011"/> | As part of its humanitarian mission, India established field clinics and a children's hospital. It also runs a program providing midday-meals to about 2 million Afghan schoolchildren.<ref name="Thottam2011"/> | ||
| In the construction sector, an important work constructed by Indians is the 217 kilometre], or Route 606 by Indian construction agencies in Southern Afghanistan, the completion of which in August 2009 has given a viable alternative route for duty free movement of goods through the Chahabar port in Iran to Afghanistan.<ref name="BennettFund2005">{{cite book|author1=Adam Bennett|author2=International Monetary Fund|title=Reconstructing Afghanistan|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Sydnz-ZrTrUC&pg=PA18|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=15 April 2005|publisher=International Monetary Fund|isbn=978-1-58906-324-2|page=18}}</ref><ref name="Usa2008">{{cite book|author=Ibp Usa|title=Global Logistics Assesments Reports Handbook: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0x3TrjmWAsMC&pg=PA17|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=15 February 2008|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|isbn=978-0-7397-6603-3|page=17}}</ref> Road building has been a prominent component of India reconstruction aid – over 700 kilometres of roads have been built in the preceding eight years. The hallmark project of the Indian aid effort is a majestic domed edifice costing $125 million for the Afghan Parliament which is likely to be completed at the end of 2011.<ref name="Thottam2011"/> | In the construction sector, an important work constructed by Indians is the 217 kilometre ], or Route 606 by Indian construction agencies in Southern Afghanistan, the completion of which in August 2009 has given a viable alternative route for duty free movement of goods through the Chahabar port in Iran to Afghanistan.<ref name="BennettFund2005">{{cite book|author1=Adam Bennett|author2=International Monetary Fund|title=Reconstructing Afghanistan|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Sydnz-ZrTrUC&pg=PA18|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=15 April 2005|publisher=International Monetary Fund|isbn=978-1-58906-324-2|page=18}}</ref><ref name="Usa2008">{{cite book|author=Ibp Usa|title=Global Logistics Assesments Reports Handbook: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0x3TrjmWAsMC&pg=PA17|accessdate=10 January 2012|date=15 February 2008|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|isbn=978-0-7397-6603-3|page=17}}</ref> Road building has been a prominent component of India reconstruction aid – over 700 kilometres of roads have been built in the preceding eight years. The hallmark project of the Indian aid effort is a majestic domed edifice costing $125 million for the Afghan Parliament which is likely to be completed at the end of 2011.<ref name="Thottam2011"/> | ||
| The government of India has also provided assistance in strengthening institutions and human resource development. Scholarships were provided in 2009 for 700 Afghan citizens while Afghan public servants were granted access to government training institutions in India for periods ranging from days to six months.<ref name="B-S 2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/in-afghanistan-indianspraised-simply-for-being-indian/372716/ |title='In Afghanistan, Indians are praised simply for being Indian' – Q&A: Jayant Prasad, Indian ambassador to Afghanistan |author=Malhotra, Jyoti |date=Oct 09, 2009 |work=Business-Standard (online) |publisher=Business Standard Ltd |accessdate=18 January 2012}}</ref> The Indian government furthermore provides scholarships to more than 1,000 Afghan students per year.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} | The government of India has also provided assistance in strengthening institutions and human resource development. Scholarships were provided in 2009 for 700 Afghan citizens while Afghan public servants were granted access to government training institutions in India for periods ranging from days to six months.<ref name="B-S 2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/in-afghanistan-indianspraised-simply-for-being-indian/372716/ |title='In Afghanistan, Indians are praised simply for being Indian' – Q&A: Jayant Prasad, Indian ambassador to Afghanistan |author=Malhotra, Jyoti |date=Oct 09, 2009 |work=Business-Standard (online) |publisher=Business Standard Ltd |accessdate=18 January 2012}}</ref> The Indian government furthermore provides scholarships to more than 1,000 Afghan students per year.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} | ||
| According to '']'', which analysed perceptions about India especially among Pashtuns from Kabul to Kandahar, "the widespread support in the Pashtun heartland for an even greater Indian role in rebuilding the Afghan economy and society" is "striking".<ref name="foreignpolicy1"/> In 2011 India and Afghanistan signed the ] which would allow India to train and equip Afghan security forces.<ref name=SCHMIDT>{{cite news|last=SCHMIDT|first=JOHN R.|title=Pakistan's Alternate Universe|url=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/10/18/pakistan_haqqani_network_us_relations?page=0,0&hidecomments=yes|newspaper=FOREIGN POLICY|date=OCTOBER 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=HEALY>{{cite news|last=HEALY|first=JACK|title=Afghanistan Favors India and Denigrates Pakistan|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/world/asia/afghanistan-curries-favor-with-india-and-denigrates-pakistan.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 4, 2011|author2=ALISSA J. RUBIN}}</ref> | According to '']'', which analysed perceptions about India especially among Pashtuns from Kabul to Kandahar, "the widespread support in the Pashtun heartland for an even greater Indian role in rebuilding the Afghan economy and society" is "striking".<ref name="foreignpolicy1"/> In 2011 India and Afghanistan signed the ] which would allow India to train and equip Afghan security forces.<ref name=SCHMIDT>{{cite news|last=SCHMIDT|first=JOHN R.|title=Pakistan's Alternate Universe|url=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/10/18/pakistan_haqqani_network_us_relations?page=0,0&hidecomments=yes|newspaper=FOREIGN POLICY|date=OCTOBER 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=HEALY>{{cite news|last=HEALY|first=JACK|title=Afghanistan Favors India and Denigrates Pakistan|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/world/asia/afghanistan-curries-favor-with-india-and-denigrates-pakistan.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 4, 2011|author2=ALISSA J. RUBIN}}</ref> | ||
| ==Attacks on Indians== | |||
| {{Main|2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul|2009 Kabul Indian embassy attack}} | |||
| In 2008, ] killed 58 people and wounded 141.<ref name="rferl1"></ref><ref></ref><ref name="autogenerated1"></ref> The attacks killed an Indian defense attaché, a political consul, two embassy security guards, six Afghan police officers and many Afghan civilians.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> | |||
| International officials believe, Pakistan's ] masterminded the attacks while the ] in collaboration with the ] carried out the attacks.<ref name="nytimes1"></ref><ref name="telegraph1"></ref><ref name="PBS1"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="rferl1"/><ref name="Thottam2011"/> Afghan President ] terming the attacks an "abominable act" by "the enemies of Afghanistan's friendship with India" said the Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul was the work of "Pakistani agents".<ref name="rferl1"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/> He also stated, "India has made a significant contribution to development and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Resorting to these types of hellish acts will not damage the friendly relationship between Afghanistan and India."<ref name="autogenerated1"/> ] ] confronted ] ] with evidence and warned him that in the case of another such attack he would have to take "serious action".<ref name="timesonline">{{cite news| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article4449330.ece| title = Rogue Pakistan spies aid Taliban in Afghanistan (Times Online)]| author=Christina Lamb| publisher=The Times of London| date = 3 Aug 2008}}</ref> Pakistan denied any involvement in the attacks.<ref name="rferl1"/> Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman ] said there was not enough evidence of ISI involvement.<ref></ref> | |||
| In 2009, a second attack on the Indian embassy killed 17 people.<ref name="nytimes1"/> The Haqqani network was blamed for the attack.<ref name="nytimes1"/> In 2011, ], Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated the Haqqani network was in many ways "a strategic arm of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency".<ref></ref> | |||
| In 2010, six Indian construction workers and several Indian doctors were killed in terrorist attacks on two Kabul guesthouse often frequented by Indians. Saeed Ansari, spokesman for Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, said the militants who attacked the Indian guesthouse were speaking Urdu, Pakistan's official language.<ref name="telegraph1"/> "We are very close to the exact proof and evidence that the attack on the Indian guesthouse ... was carried out by ] network, who are dependent on the Pakistan military."<ref name="telegraph1"/><ref></ref> | |||
| ==Alleged intelligence activity and support for insurgents == | |||
| Pakistani government officials have accused the Indian ] (RAW) intelligence agency of having an active presence inside Afghanistan, from where they claim it provides material support to anti-state militant groups such as the ] against Pakistan.<ref></ref><ref name="outlook"></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> Among these concerns is the large number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan, which Pakistan has dubbed "launching pads" for intelligence activities and covert operations adverse to Pakistan, under the cover of diplomacy.<ref name="outlook"/> | |||
| India has denied these allegations and said Pakistan had brought forward no evidence to back up such claims.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====Not credible==== | |||
| The Obama administration's former Af-Pak envoy, ], also said that while Pakistan had repeatedly shared its allegations with Washington it had failed to provide any evidence to the United States that India was involved in separatist movements in Balochistan. The United States do not consider Pakistan's accusations against India credible.<ref name="indiatimes1"></ref> Holbrooke also strongly rejected the allegation India was using its consulates in Afghanistan as launching pads, saying he had "no reason to believe Islamabad's charges", and "Pakistan would do well to examine its own internal problems".<ref name="indiatimes1"/> Other officials too have said Pakistan is trying to put blame on external forces for a serious internal crisis and thereby fails to address the Balochistan issue with the Balochs internally.<ref name="indiatimes1"/> | |||
| Pakistan claims evidence<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/pak-claims-evidence-of-raw-s-involvement-in-ongoing-terror-spree_590846.html |title=Pak claims evidence of RAW’s involvement in ongoing terror spree |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=2009-12-28 |accessdate=2012-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_58148.shtml |title=Afghanistan and the U.S. Withdrawal | Afghanistan |publisher=Axisoflogic.com |date=2010-01-16 |accessdate=2012-01-09}}</ref> and reportedly evidence of an Afghan officer's suspected conspiracy with the Indian intelligence against Pakistan allegedly resulting in the ] had been shared.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/308841/afghan-commander-orchestrated-nov-26-attack-report/ |title=RAW collusion suspected: Probe faults Afghan serviceman for NATO air raid, says report – The Express Tribune |publisher=Tribune.com.pk |date= |accessdate=2012-01-09}}</ref> A NATO report, however, claimed that mistakes both by NATO and Pakistan had led to the ].<ref></ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{Div col|2}} | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| {{Div col end}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| *{{cite web |url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/database/afganistanindianattack.htm |title=Terrorist Attacks on Indians in Afghanistan |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi|accessdate=18 January 2012}} | |||
| {{NRI-PIO}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 16:54, 11 January 2013
Indian aid to Afghanistan
India has no military presence in Afghanistan. An estimated 3,000 Indian nationals in Afghanistan work for reconstruction companies, international aid agencies or are Indian government employees working at the consulates and embassies.
As part of its humanitarian mission, India established field clinics and a children's hospital. It also runs a program providing midday-meals to about 2 million Afghan schoolchildren.
In the construction sector, an important work constructed by Indians is the 217 kilometre Delaram–Zaranj Highway, or Route 606 by Indian construction agencies in Southern Afghanistan, the completion of which in August 2009 has given a viable alternative route for duty free movement of goods through the Chahabar port in Iran to Afghanistan. Road building has been a prominent component of India reconstruction aid – over 700 kilometres of roads have been built in the preceding eight years. The hallmark project of the Indian aid effort is a majestic domed edifice costing $125 million for the Afghan Parliament which is likely to be completed at the end of 2011.
The government of India has also provided assistance in strengthening institutions and human resource development. Scholarships were provided in 2009 for 700 Afghan citizens while Afghan public servants were granted access to government training institutions in India for periods ranging from days to six months. The Indian government furthermore provides scholarships to more than 1,000 Afghan students per year.
According to Foreign Policy, which analysed perceptions about India especially among Pashtuns from Kabul to Kandahar, "the widespread support in the Pashtun heartland for an even greater Indian role in rebuilding the Afghan economy and society" is "striking". In 2011 India and Afghanistan signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement which would allow India to train and equip Afghan security forces.
- ^ Thottam, Jyothi (11 April 2011). "Afghanistan: India's Uncertain Road". Time Magazine World 9online). Time Inc. Retrieved 18 January 2012. Cite error: The named reference "Thottam2011" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- QADRI, MUSTAFA (4 FEBRUARY 2010). "Should we talk to the Taliban?". ABC.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Raza, Maroof (25 October 2011). "The Quagmire Next Door". Times of India. Bennet, Coleman & Co. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
... any Indian military presence in Afghanistan will only add to Pakistan's anti-India hysteria of a two-front threat.
- Adam Bennett; International Monetary Fund (15 April 2005). Reconstructing Afghanistan. International Monetary Fund. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-58906-324-2. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- Ibp Usa (15 February 2008). Global Logistics Assesments Reports Handbook: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries. Int'l Business Publications. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7397-6603-3. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- Malhotra, Jyoti (Oct 09, 2009). "'In Afghanistan, Indians are praised simply for being Indian' – Q&A: Jayant Prasad, Indian ambassador to Afghanistan". Business-Standard (online). Business Standard Ltd. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Cite error: The named reference
foreignpolicy1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - SCHMIDT, JOHN R. (OCTOBER 18, 2011). "Pakistan's Alternate Universe". FOREIGN POLICY.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - HEALY, JACK; ALISSA J. RUBIN (October 4, 2011). "Afghanistan Favors India and Denigrates Pakistan". New York Times.