The recent turn of events in Afghanistan and the region has caused a major stir in India. The relations between India and US are hitting its first low in many years.
For New Delhi, the recent move to reduce forces from Afghanistan by the Trump administration goes against the previously established policy as outlined in President Trump’s South Asia strategy in 2017, which relied upon a “fight to win” approach aimed at killing terrorists. The policy also placed India as an important regional player in Afghanistan and wanted India to do more in assisting the war torn country. However, the Trump’s decision for the reduction of troops reflects India’s limited influence on US policy regardless of the rhetoric, as well as limited options and dependency on US for its presence and existence in Afghanistan.
