ISAS Insights

President Karzai’s three-day official visit in May 2013 to India with a wish list of military equipment has reignited speculation regarding an increased Indian military presence in post-2014 Afghanistan. Amid frayed Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, difficulty in the negotiations of a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Afghanistan and the United States, waning international interest in the Afghan war and dwindling financial assistance to the conflict-ravaged country, uncertainties loom large on the prospects of peace and stability in Afghanistan. President Karzai who, prior to the 2014 drawdown of international forces and the presidential elections in Afghanistan, is continuing his effort to bring a negotiated end to the war and reclaim the sovereign status of his country and thereby mark his legacy, is seeking help from a trusted ally and friend. While much of what happens in the coming months will test the intent and capacity of New Delhi to come to Karzai's aid, it will also define how India perceives its role in post-2014 Afghanistan and how prepared it is to confront the future of Afghanistan in pursuance of its national interests and strategic objectives.