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DIPLOMACY often walks the fine line between principle and pragmatism, revealing how nations adapt to shifting power structures. India’s recent high-level meeting with the Taliban is one such example, marking a significant moment in the region’s geopolitical dynamics. Despite their history of tension, this engagement is not just a political move — it is a survival strategy for both parties.

India’s top diplomat, Vikram Misri, meeting the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaki, signals a calculated shift in India’s stance towards Afghanistan under Taliban rule. For a country that once shunned the group, the thawing of relations hints at larger implications, both for regional security and international diplomacy.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, India was left struggling with the abrupt loss of its strategic influence. Decades of investments — totalling over $3 billion — vanished almost overnight. Roads, dams, hospitals, and even Afghanistan’s parliament building stand as silent witnesses to India’s presence. Yet, despite these setbacks, India’s recent outreach has given the Taliban something they have been craving: a semblance of legitimacy on the world stage.

Michael Kugelman, an expert at the Wilson Center, aptly described the situation: ‘This move comes from a country that has historically had frosty relations with the Taliban. For the Taliban, this engagement is a clear diplomatic win.’ The Taliban, often painted as pariahs in international circles, now find themselves acknowledged by one of the world’s largest democracies.

India’s decision to engage with the Taliban is not born out of goodwill but necessity. The stakes are high — countering Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan, securing its own regional interests, and safeguarding its investments in Chabahar port in Iran. This port serves as a critical trade link, bypassing Pakistan’s ports and connecting India to Central Asia. India’s outreach also highlights a growing regional trend: New Delhi’s diminishing influence in South Asia. Despite its size and economic might, India has faced increasing alienation from its neighbours, who view its actions as overbearing or neglectful.

Once hailed as a close ally, Bangladesh now represents a complex challenge for India. Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Dhaka maintained strong ties with New Delhi, driven by cooperation in security, trade, and regional connectivity. However, tensions have surfaced over issues like the Teesta River water-sharing dispute, India’s National Register of Citizens project, and allegations of interference in Bangladesh’s internal politics.

Bangladeshis increasingly view India as an unreliable partner, especially given its perceived indifference toward Dhaka’s concerns.

India’s relationship with Sri Lanka has also deteriorated. While New Delhi has provided assistance during Colombo’s recent economic crisis, its historical role in supporting Tamil separatists and its perceived interference in Sri Lanka’s domestic policies have created lingering mistrust. China’s significant investments in Sri Lanka, particularly through the belt and road initiative, have further marginalised India’s influence.

In the Maldives, India faces a delicate balancing act. While it backed President Ibrahim Solih’s administration to counter China’s growing footprint, accusations of Indian military presence on the island have fuelled nationalist sentiment against New Delhi. This has provided fertile ground for opposition forces to rally against India’s influence.

Nepal, traditionally a close partner, has grown increasingly disenchanted with India. Border disputes, particularly over the Kalapani region, and New Delhi’s heavy-handed approach to Kathmandu’s internal politics have strained ties. Nepal’s growing engagement with China has further reduced India’s leverage, as Kathmandu seeks to assert its sovereignty against both regional powers.

India’s relationships with its neighbours reflect a broader struggle to maintain its traditional influence in South Asia. In this context, India’s engagement with the Taliban can also be seen as an effort to recalibrate its regional strategy. By engaging with new power centres like the Taliban, New Delhi seeks to compensate for its growing isolation in South Asia. However, whether this approach succeeds or further worsens its challenges remains uncertain.

However, India’s approach is not unique. History and fiction remind us that diplomatic engagements often come with uneasy compromises. Consider The Diplomat, the recent Netflix series, where a fictional US ambassador navigates morally ambiguous decisions to protect national interests. India’s move mirrors such a narrative — it is less about aligning values and more about strategic survival.

The cold war offers another lens to analyse India’s outreach. During that era, alliances were formed not based on shared ideologies but mutual benefits. The US famously supported regimes and groups that aligned with its strategic interests, even if they contradicted its democratic ideals.

As mentioned earlier, at the heart of India’s outreach is the Chabahar port. For the Taliban, supporting this initiative aligns with their goal of economic revival. Afghanistan’s trade routes could thrive, offering the Taliban a pathway to legitimacy by showcasing economic development.

Yet, this newfound friendship comes with risks. The Taliban remains a group rooted in violence, with ties to international terror networks. Trusting them to act as stable partners is akin to walking a tightrope without a safety net.

In the movie Argo, based on real events during the Iranian Revolution, the protagonist risks everything in a high-stakes rescue mission. Similarly, India’s engagement with the Taliban is a gamble that could either stabilise the region or backfire spectacularly.

One of the most intriguing outcomes of India’s engagement is the diminishing role of Pakistan in Afghan affairs. Historically, Pakistan wielded considerable influence over the Taliban. But recent tensions, including Pakistan’s accusations of harbouring the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, have strained their relationship.

By stepping into the void left by Pakistan, India is not only asserting its regional presence but also disrupting Pakistan’s traditional dominance over the Taliban. But engaging with the Taliban raises uncomfortable questions about human rights. The group’s treatment of women, suppression of dissent, and ties to extremist ideologies cannot be overlooked. Yet, some argue that engagement, rather than isolation, might push the Taliban toward moderation.

Jayant Prasad, a former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan, believes that continued dialogue could pressure the Taliban to reform. ‘Recognition will only come with internal changes,’ he said, referencing the need for the Taliban to restore women’s rights and reintegrate them into public life.

India’s move highlights a timeless dilemma in diplomacy: how to balance principles with pragmatism. Should nations engage with regimes that contradict their values? Or should they prioritise national interests at all costs?

In Madam Secretary, a series centred on international diplomacy, the protagonist often faces similar choices. India’s decision mirrors these fictional dilemmas, showing how real-world diplomacy often involves navigating morally grey areas.

For the Taliban, India’s outreach is a step toward gaining global legitimacy. For India, it is a strategy to protect its regional interests and counterbalance Pakistan and China. Yet, the path ahead is fraught with challenges.

Can the Taliban be trusted to honour agreements? Will India’s engagement lead to meaningful changes in Taliban behaviour, or will it embolden them further? These are questions that remain unanswered.

India’s engagement with the Taliban reflects the complex realities of modern diplomacy. It is not about endorsing a regime but finding ways to navigate an ever-changing geopolitical landscape. As seen in both history and fiction, diplomacy often involves calculated risks.

Whether this move secures India’s interests or proves to be a costly mistake will depend on how both sides navigate this fragile relationship. For now, the world watches as India and the Taliban script a new chapter in regional diplomacy — a story where pragmatism meets uncertainty, and where the stakes could not be higher.

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HM Nazmul Alam is a lecturer in English and modern languages at the International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology.