India-Afghanistan Relations: Opportunities and Challenges in the Era of Taliban 2.0

Hapejul Halsana

Abstract: The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 has got major shifts to the political strategic landscape of south Asia. For India this development presents a complex mix of challenges of opportunities. This paper looks at how India is navigating its relationship with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Historically, India has played a key role in Afghanistan's development, with significant investment infrastructure, education and humanitarian aid. The recent changes, however, have risen new concerns-particularly around security, the influence of Pakistan and china's expanding presence in the region. At the same time, India has the chance to reassert its role through soft power, development partnership, and regional connectivity projects like the Chabahar Port. This study suggests that India's approach must be balanced-combining humanitarian engagement with strategic cautions-to protect its interests and support regional stability.

Keywords: India-Afghanistan relations, Taliban 2.0, South Asia strategy, Foreign policy, Chabahar port

How to Cite?: Hapejul Halsana, "India-Afghanistan Relations: Opportunities and Challenges in the Era of Taliban 2.0", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1126-1131, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25716213445, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25716213445