Abstract
One of the key developments in the South Asian regional politics is under way in Afghanistan; and both India and Pakistan are making efforts to influence Afghanistan’s future in their favour in order to address their perceived security concerns. To Pakistan, India has been making a palpable strategic investment in Afghanistan since 9/11 with a view to encircle Pakistan and reduce its strategic depth. From India’s perspective, besides helping Afghanistan in its rebuilding process, India’s current engagement in that country is aimed at preventing pro-Pakistan, anti-India Taliban assuming power. Pakistan, on the other hand, seems to cater its much desired objective of having a friendly regime across its western border to meet its security concerns that essentially stem from a perceived Indian threat. This paper is an attempt to understand the gravity of the security dilemma that an unsettled Afghanistan poses to India and Pakistan.
Keyword(s)
Afghanistan, security perception, India, Pakistan, Taliban, Northern Alliance, Security Dilemma