Table Of ContentAnalysing
the Current
Afghan Context
Afghanistan is on the verge of another transition as it seeks stability and
deals with a variety of internal and external issues. After the Taliban, an
Islamic fundamentalist organisation, captured Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital,
on August 15, 2021. It was the culmination of a military offensive against the
Afghan government that began in May 2021. The arrest occurred just hours
after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The majority of Afghanistan’s
provincial capitals had fallen one after the other as part of a US troop
withdrawal scheduled to end on August 31, 2021. Internal political turmoil,
constant Taliban attacks across the country, and deadly suicide bombings
by the Islamic State-Khorasan keep it busy while external nations play the
New Great Game for geo-strategic ambitions both in its front yard and in
its backyard. This book highlights all the ongoing issues of Afghanistan’s
surge and provides the readers with insights into the country’s past, present
and future.
Neeraj Singh Manhas is Director, Indo-Pacific, at Raisina House, New Delhi.
Currently, he is a Doctoral Scholar in International Relations (Chinese Studies) at
Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, India. At present, he is also officiating an honorary
position as an Associate Fellow at the Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies
(KIIPS) and a Research Associate at the Association of Asia Scholars (AAS). He is a
lifetime member of the Indian Political Science Association (IPSA) and an Associate
member at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF). He has participated in various
National and International seminars and conferences and published over 150 papers.
Afghanistan has been a nation of “graves of many nations” who saw it
from their own prisms, devoid of realities of the land and the perspective
of the people of the nation. Each nation left it more chaotic than
when it entered. Afghanistan is today a global tragedy characterized by
barbarism, human rights violations and religious fanaticism devoid of
humanity. Understanding Taliban 2.0 its genesis and prognosis is thus
foundational to understanding the geopolitics of the region. The book
has well encapsulated this sphere and is a must read for both academia
and professionals. Its detailed research presents a rich resource for
understanding the challenges and dynamics of the region.
— Lt Gen A B Shivane, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Former Director General Mechanised Forces
Distinguished Fellow, CLAWS
This well-researched and detailed book provides a sharp bird’s eye-view
of Afghan history. The book flows very well and touches on current events
and suggests paths forward. The book is recommended for scholars,
academics, researchers, and those who have an interest in studying the
geopolitical future of the South Asia.
— Professor Swaran Singh, CIPOD, JNU
An interesting book on the current geo-strategic hot spot, Afghanistan.
Multiple writers have dealt with whole range of issues covering cultural,
economic, political, social, and religious history of Afghanistan in a
concise and interesting way. Recommended reading.
— Lt Gen Kamal Jit Singh, PVSM, AVSM & Bar (Veteran)
Former Western Army Commander & State Information
Commissioner
This book is an absorbing read which give the reader an insight into
the complexities of the region. It has totally changed the way I think
about this beautiful and complex country. If you want to at least “scratch
the surface” of learning about Afghanistan, this is a good place to start.
This was an excellent book that both gave a very readable overview of
Afghanistan’s history and an incisive analysis of the current situation
facing the country and its future.
— Maj Gen Rohit Gupta, SM (Retd)
Analysing
the Current
Afghan Context
Edited by
Neeraj Singh Manhas
Foreword by
Maj Gen Dr Rajan Kochhar, VSM
KNOWLEDGE WORLD
KW Publishers Pvt Ltd
New Delhi
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 KW Publishers
The right of contributors to be identified as author(s) of this work has been asserted in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
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invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
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Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan or
Bhutan).
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN13: 9781032429397 (hbk)
ISBN13: 9781032429403 (pbk)
ISBN13: 9781003365006 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003365006
Typeset in Adobe Caslon Pro
by KW Publishers, Delhi
Dedicated to
My Father, Honorary Captain J.S. Manhas—the bravest
soldier I’ve ever known, who was the part of Operation
Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Vijay in Kargil,
Operation Rakshak and 26/11 during the Mumbai Taj
attack and also given more than 35 years of his service to
his nation and still counting.
Contents
Foreword ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xix
Contributors xxi
1. Afghanistan’s Modern Taliban Era: A Glass Half Full 1
Shubhangi Misra
2. The Impact of the US Withdrawal from Afghanistan:
Pakistan and China 12
Anisha Maulida
3. Feminism, Peace and Afghanistan: An Indian
Feminist Perspective 25
Tamanna Khosla
4. India’s Stakes, Challenges and Strategy in the Aftermath of
Talibans in Afghanistan 41
Neeraj Singh Manhas
5. Afghanistan: Issues and Challenges in Taliban Era 60
Rajkumar Singh
6. The Graveyard of Empires:
An Endless War in Afghanistan 73
Jay Maniyar
7. Decoding Chinese Ambitions in Afghanistan:
Its Implications on India 88
Suchita Sharma
viii | ANALySING THE CURRENT AFGHAN CONTExT
8. Regional Security Complex in South Asia: A Study of the
Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan 102
Puyesh Kant Sharma
9. Convulsed Women’s Rights in Afghanistan Pursuant to
Taliban Governance in Early Twenty-first Century 114
Rekha Kumari R. Singh
10. The Resistance of Panjshir in the Face of the Taliban 134
Vibhaa Sreedhar
Index 145
Foreword
Neeraj Singh Manhas deserves to be complimented for writing an extremely
incisive and well-articulated edited book that encompasses the complete
spectrum of the subject “Analysing the Current Afghan Context.” The
ideas in the book are refreshing in its specificity which takes the reader step
by step towards greater understanding of perceived geostrategic situation
post take-over of Afghanistan by Taliban and leads to a logical prognosis of
the options available to the major superpowers to address the threats to the
overall security environment. The analytical approach and engaging flow of
the book is inspiring and makes it a good read for students of International
Relations and Geopolitics. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and
find it a great combine of being interesting as also informative. Hence, I
strongly advocate that it be read by Afghanistan watchers. The book based on
extensive research, offered suggestions on creating a capability to meet this
multi-domain challenge, which is here to stay. A definite read for all with
concern for national security and building the nation’s hard power. What I
like most about this book is that it has a great title. Truly speaking, Pakistan’s
culpability in this entire episode needs to be exposed. This book provides us
with the wherewithal to gain knowledge to start understanding important
issues concerning all countries of South Asia. Any student of geopolitics
must start with this book. It gives a great overview of Afghanistan in simple
terms while covering a vast landscape. There are no complicated theories
and statistics to confuse you. No rhetoric or building up an unrealistic or
imaginary picture. Issues are stated as they are and analysed simplistically
with basic facts and figures. It is easy to grasp and digest mentally. Every
aspect which is relevant in the Indian strategic construct has been dealt with
