Telling the Taliban

The Taliban8217;s brutal killing of K. Suryanarayan, an Indian telecommunications engineer working for a Bahrainian company in Afghanistan, is a test of Delhi8217;s political resolve. The nature of the demand 8212; that all Indians and Indian companies working in Afghanistan should withdraw 8212; and the time frame of for meeting it 8212; 24 hours 8212; suggest the killers had no intent to negotiate. It was an attempt to intimidate India into ending its high profile role in the current international effort to promote and peace and stability in war-torn Afghanistan. In developing a coherent response, India must unambiguously signal that there would be no down-grading of Indian presence in Afghanistan. Any policy movement in that direction would be a victory for the Taliban8217;s actions in Afghanistan against India. Having tested India in the Kandahar hijacking of IC 814 and found India wanting, the Taliban might have a low opinion of India8217;s ability to withstand pain. As more and more Indians find their way to far away and often turbulent places around the world in search of economic rewards, the government is no position to offer protection to all of them. While maintaining its correct policy of not accepting the demands of those who take Indian citizens hostage, Delhi needs to strengthen its capacity to collect information, assess the risks involved and inform those who are prepared to embark on difficult postings.

Traditional Indian fatalism and lack of regard for life, has meant many Indians in Afghanistan, about 1300 with government aided projects and hundreds of others working with private companies, disregard personal security procedures that seek to limit the potential threats to their life. Both Suryanarayan and Ramankutty Maniappan of the Border Roads Organisation who was abducted and beheaded by the Taliban in February violated the cardinal rule in Afghanistan of not traveling in the country side without security cover.

Meanwhile India has some proving to do to with the Taliban. One way of demonstrating it is to raise the level of force protection for government personnel working in Afghanistan. Another is to significantly expand India8217;s assistance in the training and arming of Kabul8217;s security forces, including the Afghan National Army and police. Together, these should convince the Taliban and its supporters in Pakistan, that India is determined to raise the political costs to those who are threatening India8217;s interests in Afghanistan.