- India, a victim of terrorism, possesses intelligence and counter-terrorism capabilities which is why India can be a great addition to bolster Quad’s effort to combat terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and its bordering region.
- Pakistan and China do not want India to have leverage in Afghanistan and therefore such internal rivalry and competing interests within the group can hamper the efficiency of the group.
- India’s Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled approach and its well-intended aid policy towards Afghanistan have earned goodwill for India among Afghan nationals.
- Russia’s push for India’s inclusion in the Afghan Quad is driven by a complex interplay of geopolitical and strategic factors.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested the inclusion of India in the Afghan Quad, a group of four countries that includes Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran.1 It is a diplomatic initiative formed to address the complex challenges in Afghanistan after the Taliban captured Kabul. Afghan Quad is working to promote stability, address security concerns and facilitate humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The timing of this suggestion is very interesting as a few days back a very important development happened in the relationship between India and the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In Dubai, a meeting was held between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi.2 This was the highest level of meeting between the Taliban and India Since the Taliban captured Kabul on 15 August 2021.
Understanding Russia’s Interests for India’s Inclusion
The motivation for Russia behind suggesting India’s inclusion in the Afghan Quad could be many.
Firstly, before the Taliban’s return to Kabul, India has invested heavily in Afghanistan’s development and reconstruction projects. India has invested around USD 3 billion in various projects to build and enhance civic infrastructure in this war-torn nation.3 This includes very important infrastructure projects of Afghanistan such as the Afghan Parliament building, the Afghan-India Friendship Dam also known as the Salma Dam, the Delaram-Zaranj Highway, Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul etc.4 Now, after the Taliban came to power, India is providing humanitarian assistance. Both Russia and India have shared interests in Afghanistan. They both share stability and security concerns. Both provide humanitarian assistance to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Secondly, India, a victim of terrorism, possesses intelligence and counter-terrorism capabilities which is why India can be a great addition to bolster Quad’s effort to combat terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and its bordering region.
Thirdly, India’s Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled approach and its well-intended aid policy towards Afghanistan have earned goodwill for India among Afghan nationals.5 Therefore, India’s inclusion in the group increases the legitimacy of the group. It also demonstrates Russia’s inclusive diplomacy.
Fourthly, India is a very important player in the region and it has a significant role in the stability of the region which is also an objective of the group. Therefore, Indian inclusion complements the Quad group.
Challenges to India’s Inclusion
India’s inclusion in a group with members like Pakistan and China is not without challenges. Pakistan is a historic rival to India and being a part of the group may hinder furthering India’s interests. Even if India joins the group, full cooperation between these two countries is less likely as Pakistan does not want India to have leverage in Afghanistan. Similarly, China may not like India’s inclusion as it can counterbalance Chinese influence within the Quad. Therefore, internal rivalry and competing interests within the group can hamper the efficiency of the group. Looking at Pakistan’s not allowing Indian assistance via Pakistan-controlled territory and the recent increasing rivalry between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it seems their priorities are varying. Therefore, India’s inclusion may complicate the decision-making of the group.
Potential Benefits of India’s Membership
Despite these challenges, India’s inclusion in the Afghan Quad can offer potential benefits. It could foster greater regional collaboration in different areas such as counter-terrorism, trade and infrastructure development. It could help in the development and capacity building of Afghanistan by facilitating cooperation in education and healthcare. Along with this, the Afghan Quad as a whole can pressure the Taliban government to change its orthodox behaviour to some extent such as allowing women’s education in Afghanistan. India’s inclusion can also help in counterbalancing the Chinese influence in the region. As Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban deteriorates, the chances of Afghan nationals acknowledging India’s well-intended gestures and humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan are increasing.
Conclusion
Russia’s push for India’s inclusion in the Afghan Quad is driven by a complex interplay of geopolitical and strategic factors. Joining the group offers potential benefits such as enhanced influence in the region and cooperation among members in counter-terrorism. However, it is not free from challenges. Here, it should be noted that India has not yet replied or issued any statement regarding Russia’s suggestion to join the Afghan Quad. However, recent developments in India-Afghanistan relations indicate India is increasing diplomatic engagement and has a growing interest in Afghanistan’s stability. Though the Indian official stance on this issue is uncertain recent interactions between India and Afghanistan suggest that India is willing to play a constructive role in fostering Kabul’s stability.
References:
- 1 Banerjee, A. (2025, January 15). Russia pushes for India’s inclusion in Afghan Quad, calls for India-Pakistan dialogue – The Tribune. The Tribune. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/russia-pushes-for-indias-inclusion-in-afghan-quad-calls-for-india-pakistan-dialogue/
- 2 Singh, S. K. (2025, January 9). India’s meeting with the Taliban is part of its commitment towards the Afghan people. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-meeting-taliban-afghan-people-9769340/
- 3 https://www.cnbctv18.com. (2021, July 17). Explained: Will Afghanistan’s new status impact India and its $3 billion investment? CNBCTV18. https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/explained-will-afghanistans-new-status-impact-india-and-its-3-billion-investment-10021471.htm
- 4 ibid
- 5 PTI, & PTI. (2020, July 6). India stresses on importance of an “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled” peace process. Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-stresses-on-importance-of-afghan-led-afghan-owned-and-afghan-controlled-peace-process-857938.html
Ashish Keserwani is a Research Scholar pursuing a PhD from Amity University Noida. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Shrivara Mahajan 
Faareha Usmani