Page 14 - TIE 082721

Op-Ed AUGUST 27, 2021 | The Indian Eye 14

What really are india’s options in afghanistan?

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

s uncertainty continues
to loom over Afghanistan Women Safety in paK
Aafter Taliban’s takeover, fter the Minar-e-Paki-
India has been focussed on evac- stan incident, we saw
uating its citizens, Afghan Hin-
dus and Sikhs and other Afghans Aapologists trying to justi-
fleeing the Islamist group. How- fy what happened by asking why
ever, it would soon need to firm the female TikToker had invited
her fans for a meet-and-greet
up a strategy to deal with the new and arguing that this was bound
dispensation in Kabul. Admit- to happen. No, this should not
tedly, India has no easy options have happened, period. Men
here given Pakistan’s links with
Taliban. It would also rue the should not behave like maniacs
ebb in its relations with Iran. The every time they see a woman.
latter has significant influence in These are the same men who
get outraged when women take
Afghanistan and hosts an esti- out an Aurat March around the
mated 3 million Afghan refugees. country, they are enraged when
Plus, Tehran has developed con- Indians inside a bus as they arrive from Afghanistan in New Delhi (ANI) women shout, ‘Mera Jism, Meri
tacts with Taliban over the years
with the Afghan group even dia terrorist groups. The same iban, the more embarrassing Marzi’ (My Body, My Choice),
expressing affinity for the Irani- levers — aid, the chair of the and humiliating it will be for the because at the end of the day,
these men think that women
an Islamic governance system. UN sanctions committee and Narendra Modi government to don’t have any rights. When
In fact, Iran was part of In- support for an inclusive Afghan engage with the new Afghan re- they circulate fake videos en-
dia’s Afghanistan strategy only government — can also be used gime in the coming days. dangering the lives of several
a few years ago. India’s devel- for evacuation, pressure on hu- I foresee a proverbial case
opment of Iran’s Chabahar man rights and, down the line, of being forced to lick what you women, nobody is held account-
port and interest in completing trade access to Central Asia. spat out. able. It is the women who have
the rail link to Zahedan on the Wait and watch cannot, surely, Taliban 2.0 is radically dif- to set the record straight about
the videos being morphed and
border with Afghanistan were entail losing the gains made with ferent from its 1996-2001 stint fake. Not the men who circulat-
aimed at providing an alterna- Central Asia through common in power. In fact, the Taliban’s ed them.
tive trade and transit route to concerns over Afghan security dealing with the global com- And yet, women are not even
Kabul bypassing Pakistan. But and the stability and economic munity since the February 2020
the erstwhile Donald Trump growth of its neighbors. At pres- Doha peace deal has been rath- allowed to say they are feeling
administration’s reimposition ent, the message we are sending er impressive. New Delhi is unsafe. But we will keep saying
of US sanctions on Iran after out to these countries is one of acutely aware of the Taliban’s it until and unless our society
changes, until each man realiz-
exiting the Iran nuclear deal in retreat. This is not a message we current worldwide acceptability. es how unsafe we feel — every-
2018 put a big spanner in New can afford to send, when Chi- As things stand today, India will where. We will keep raising our
Delhi-Tehran ties. And given na and Pakistan are cementing get isolated if it doesn’t talk to voices and nobody can stop us.
the changed geopolitical scenar- their power in the region, along the Taliban.
io with an increasingly assertive with their alliance against India. India emptied out its embas- We, the women, demand jus-
China, New Delhi was left with Nor can we afford to alienate sy in Kabul and diplomats, in- tice for every injustice. We, the
women, will not be silent. We,
little choice but to strategically be the Taliban to the point that cluding ambassador Rudrendra the women, will ask uncomfort-
close to Washington’s position.” they afford sanctuary to anti-In- Tandon, after holding out for 48 able questions. We, the wom-
editorial, dia groups. Engage and expand hours of the Taliban recaptur-
The Times of India your leverage is more practical ing power. Our officials were so en, will always stand up against
than retreat and let China and anxious and desperate to leave each and every case of violence
against women and make the
Wait and WatCh Pakistan gain ground (aka wait that they failed to return the culprits answerable.”
passports Afghans had submit-
and watch to many).”
rom the Indian statement radha Kumar, ted for visas. The grave consular mehmal Sarfaraz,
The Telegraph
at the UN Human Rights The Indian Express lapse has left countless Afghans
FCouncil, it appears that stranded and shows New Delhi Every week, we look at what
the Modi administration might media not helping — a regional nuclear power, if
contribute to humanitarian aid not a great power — in a very the top commentators in the
for Afghanistan under Taliban he more the Hindu Right poor light.” Indian media are talking about
and bring to you a slice
rule, so long as the Taliban ad- and the hyper electronic Snm abdi, of their opinions and comments
here to the red line on anti-In-Tmedia demonize the Tal- The Quint

www.TheIndianEYE .com