| Summary/Abstract |
This article argues that the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 has drawn India much closer to Afghanistan. The existing bilateral ties have been significantly boosted from 2011 onwards with the inking of the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Contributing over $1 billion, India has become the fifth largest donor and is now the largest regional donor for Afghan reconstruction. India has been effective in giving economic leverage to Afghanistan through developmental assistance. At the present state of things, India should be deepening its presence in Afghanistan while comforting Pakistan for a peaceful neighbourhood. Given the geo-strategic and economic necessity, India should development-wise engage more to neutralize the interventions of Pakistan and play a key role in the region.
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