In the era of multipolar world, Afghanistan plays a crucial role in shaping the geopolitics of South Asia. Comment. (200 Words)
Refer- Business Line
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
Afghanistan acts as the gateway to Europe and Central Asia and gifted with various mineral resources like rare earth elements copper, iron ore, thus shaping the geopolitics in Asia.
Importance of Afghanistan
· Recently the USA waived sanctions on Iran of the Chabahar port indirectly handing the development of port to India(countering China), this allows India to access the markets of Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.
· China’s heavy investment in Gwadar port via Belt road initiative to have access to Afghan acting as a tough competition to India.
· Heart of Asia Conference(Istanbul Process) mostly dominated by China to enable the peace process in Aghan, where the USA acts as a supporting member.
· India recently constructed new Afghan parliament and delivery of Mi-25 attack helicopters shows the strategic importance of Afghan.
· The Russian government recently hosted a peace conference on Afghanistan(Moscow meet), which was attended by representatives from the terror groups, thus Russia trying to act as a key player in the Afghan peace process.
· USA also plays a major role in shaping Afghan national security forces and setting the condition to lay down the terrorist groups.
Thus major powers are trying to have political, economic, strategic control over Afghan to dominate South Asia.
