The visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh to Afghanistan from 27-28 September 2005 demonstrated New Delhi's commitment to "work wholeheartedly" with Kabul, thereby making a strategic move in regional diplomacy. India had earlier developed strong links with the Tajik dominated Northern Alliance and has now regained its political influence with the rest of the country after the ouster of the Taliban. The visit also raises questions about India's strategic move towards a bigger role in the sub-continent. What are Indian interests in this region? What are the interests of Karzai's government? What are Pakistan's concerns? Finally, what is the significance of this visit?

India has been a major aid donor to Afghanistan. Its main concern currently is to bring peace and stability in the region. It is also keen in helping to accelerate the pace of reconstruction and economic development. Dr Singh said, "The emergence of a moderate, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan is essential for peace and stability in the region as a whole". India had earlier extended a $500 million aid package to Afghanistan. Now, another $50 million has been offered for reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. Both leaders agreed to take the bilateral relationship to a "new stage of partnership".

During the meet, three MOUs were signed, including Cooperation in Small Development Projects, in Health, Education and Community Development and in Agriculture Research. Cooperation arrangements between the countries in horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences and exchange of scientists were also agreed upon. In the education sector, Dr Singh announced 1,000 scholarships to Afghan students in India. He also inaugurated the Habiba School building in Kabul, rebuilt by India. Both leaders issued a call to the countries in the region to fight terrorism. Most significantly, Dr Singh laid the foundation stone for a new Afghan Parliament, which India is helping to build. He said, "This edifice when it is built will be the heart of democracy in Afghanistan".

India realizes that political stability in Afghanistan is crucial for peace and stability in the whole region. Dr Singh declared that this is a relationship between the world's biggest and the world's youngest democracy. India is cognizant of the fact that Afghanistan is flanked by Iran on the West, Pakistan in the East and Central Asian Republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north and a very small stretch of border with China in the northeast. Thus, there are attractive prospects of increased trade and economic interactions with Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region, which has the world's second largest hydrocarbon resources. This is evident from the declared interest in a Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) gas pipeline. Through these reconstruction plans, Indian companies are likely to have an opportunity to invest in the region.

This visit sent a message that India is consolidating its efforts of solidarity and trust evident in the timing of the visit just a few weeks before parliamentary elections in Afghanistan. India wants to make democracy a success and not a mirage in this region. It has supported the Karzai government in the past and has promised to do so in future. Afghanistan also values its historic role in this region as a "land bridge" between South Asia and Central Asia. This visit shows that, Kabul is willing to cooperate with India to open up economic ties with Central Asia. However, both countries are conscious of their dependence on their common neighbour, Pakistan. Karzai expressed his desire to associate with the SAARC, showing his willingness to come closer to the region.

Pakistan's anxiety has increased after Dr Singh's visit. Islamabad is apprehensive of India's military and economic links with Afghanistan. It is also worried about the number of Indian consulates in different parts of Afghanistan. Pakistan's main concern above all is its fear that India would dominate trade in the region.

The visit by an Indian Prime Minister after 29 years signifies 'action' in bringing about peace and stability in Afghanistan rather than mere symbolic gestures, and has generated optimism towards the creation of a stable democracy. It still remains to be seen how far the much-publicized Indo-Pak peace-process will strive for a balanced perspective towards the region. In this regard Karzai is very optimistic as he says, as the peace talks progressed, "this vision of ours will become a reality, not only for generations of today, but more so for generations that will follow us".