Why Afghanistan drifts from Pakistan toward India

Afghanistan’s growing tilt toward India has become one of South Asia’s most striking geopolitical shifts and a major headache for Pakistan. Barely four years after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power, which many in Islamabad hailed as a “strategic victory”, relations between the two neighbours have sharply deteriorated. Today, Kabul appears to be edging away from its long-time patron and exploring a warmer partnership with New Delhi, a move that could redefine the regional balance of power. From Pakistan’s ‘proxy’ to India’s potential partner Pakistan’s influence over Afghanistan has deep historical roots. Since the Soviet invasion of 1979, Islamabad has backed Afghan factions, most notably the Taliban, using them as a tool to secure “strategic depth” against India. Even after...