Amid the chaos in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over Kabul, India, for the second time in history, have cleared of Indian embassy staff off Afghanistan. On both the occasions, the circumstances have been the same.

First, Taliban entering Kabul. In nearly 20 years since the invasion of the US, India has exuberantly chipped in with aid and support for the Afghan government and people. But Taliban was always there in the background, as were their Pakistani backers.

What are India’s investments and economic ties with Afghanistan?

Since 2001, the year when US troops landed in Afghanistan eliminate al-Qaeda terrorists, the Indian government has committed over $3 billion in development assistance to the country.

Also read: Facebook, Twitter other platforms look at ways to keep Taliban away

That money was funded in more than 500 infrastructure and development projects. The New Delhi also undertook the construction of the Afghan Parliament building, which was inaugurated in 2015 and costed $90 million to complete.

India also built the 218-km-long highway from Zaranj to Delaram in south-western Nimroz province. It also supported the completion of the Salma Dam, christened as the Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam.

Apart from the infrastructure, India also helped in the education front. India helped set up the Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU) in Kandahar while annual scholarships are granted for its students to pursue undergraduate and higher studies in India.

Also read: UK man gets nearly 700 birthday cards from strangers for his 101 birthday

What is India’s stand on Afghan peace process?

In 2001, as the US ousted the Taliban from power, India responded swiftly and stepped in with help for the beleaguered country. The presence of US troops provided a guarantee for Indian investments in Afghanistan and US efforts to instil a democratic system got the central government’s whole-hearted support.

In its reply to a question in Parliament last year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that “India’s consistent policy is to support all opportunities that can bring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan”.

What is India’s worry as Taliban takes its power back?

India threw its weight behind a democratic order in Afghanistan. But that fell behind on engaging with the Taliban. It would have taken its response in the matter from the US. But the US refused to directly talk with the militants for most of its time in the country.

The biggest concern for the Indian government would be centred around an Afghanistan under the Taliban again emerging as a haven for terror actors.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said, “About international relationship, it is our policy to have co-operation with all countries of the world. Now a new chapter has opened, that is the construction of the country, economic development of the people, a chapter of peace among all countries, especially our nearby countries. We need cooperation from other countries. Our intention is to rebuild the country and that cannot be done without the cooperation of other countries.”

“I hope they (India) will also change their policies because earlier they were siding with the regime government, which was imposed. It would be good for both sides, for the people of India and Afghanistan,” Shaheen added.

However, the Taliban have spoken about moving on from the isolationist regime it had earlier run in Afghanistan and seeking international support for rebuilding the country, goals that would make it more amenable to addressing the concerns of international stakeholders and has said that it would not harbour terror actors on Afghan soil.