TOPIC : GS 2 India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
From fighters to rulers
What is the news?
- The announcement twice Taliban spokesmen have said that they expect to have a new government in Afghanistan .
- There has been some speculation over the delay, more than weeks after Taliban gunmen walked into Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani fled.
Taliban’s Government in Afghanistan
- Taliban were waiting to take control of the last holdout province of Panjshir
- There was some symbolism attached to timing it with the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the real reason appears to be differences within various Taliban factions over the government’s structure and composition.
- In particular, the differences between the Taliban leadership in Helmand, Kandahar, and the political office in Doha, seen as the more “moderate” face, as well as between the “original” Afghan Taliban leadership and the Pakistanbased Haqqani network, a designated terror entity.
- The jockeying is reportedly over cabinet portfolios, the appointment of governors in the 34 provinces, control of the cities and the possibility of including non Taliban Afghan leaders.
- Reports of the differences have escalated and the appearance in Kabul of the Pakistan ISI chief, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, is believed to have been an attempt to smooth over the cracks in government formation.
- The differences is the tussle between the Taliban’s push to consolidate their takeover of Afghanistan and implement an Islamist agenda, and the desire to receive recognition from the international community and its continued financial support.
India role in Afghanistan
- The outcome holds the key not only to the future of Afghanistan but also to New Delhi’s engagement with the new regime.
- Any government that gives the Haqqani group key positions will make it difficult for India to have a role in either diplomacy or development projects in Afghanistan, given previous terror attacks.
- Any overt role for Pakistan, as well as China, will also raise red flags for New Delhi.
- Government has announced that it is now engaging the Taliban, with the first publicly acknowledged meeting in Doha last week
- The MEA says it conveyed concerns on the safety of Indians in Afghanistan and ensuring Afghan soil is not used for attacks in India.
Way Forward
- Any engagement with the Taliban beyond this is contingent on the composition of the new power structure
- The new government in Afghanistan is amenable to international expectations of it, in terms of representation, rights, and in allowing UN agencies to monitor development.
- India must use its voice on the international stage forcefully.
- This includes blocking any move at the UNGA and UNSC to recognise the new regime, and stopping the delisting or exemptions to Taliban leaders at the 1988 sanctions committee, which India chairs, until the Taliban regime shows a willingness to comply
Mains Question
Why India must use its voice on the international stage to make Taliban respect freedoms, right ?
Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/from-fighters-to-rulers/article36327227.ece
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- The Manjara
It also spelled Manjara or Manjeera, is a tributary of the river Godavari. It passes through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. It originates in the Balaghat range of hills near Ahmednagar district at an altitude of 823 metres and empties into the Godavari River
Manjira River, in the first two third of its length generally flows from west to east direction, until Sanga Reddy town in Telangana, little northerly to which it changes its course and flows north. Final stretch of the River forms the border between Maharashtra to the West and Telangana to the East. Manjira River along with River Haridra merges with mighty River Godavari at the border, with Dharmabad of Maharashtra, westerly and Kandakurthi south-easterly in Telangana. This triveni sangam is sacred for Hindus. The famous sacred Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam in Basar,Nirmal district, Telangana is located little downstream along River Godava. Tributaries are Terna, Manyad,Lendi, Gharni and Tawarja
- The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited
It is India’s first listed exchange, is a state-of-the-art, commodity derivatives exchange that facilitates online trading of commodity derivatives transactions, thereby providing a platform for price discovery and risk management. The Exchange, which started operations in November 2003, operates under the regulatory framework of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX), India’s first listed exchange, is a state-of-the-art, commodity derivatives exchange that facilitates online trading of commodity derivatives transactions, thereby providing a platform for price discovery and risk management. The Exchange, which started operations in November 2003, operates under the regulatory framework of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- C. Iyothee Thass
He was a prominent Tamil anti-caste activist and a practitioner of Siddha medicine. He famously converted to Buddhism and called upon the Paraiyars to do the same, arguing that this was their original religion. He also founded the Punchmar Mahajana Sabha in 1891 along with Rettamalai Srinivasan. Punchamas are the ones who do not come under Varna system; they are called as Avarnas.
He organized the Todas and other tribes of the Nilgiri Hills into a formidable force. In 1876, Thass established the Advaidananda Sabha and launched a magazine called Dravida Pandian in collaboration with Rev. John Rathinam. In 1886, Thass issued a revolutionary declaration that Scheduled caste people (Dalits) were not Hindus. Following this declaration, he established the “Dravida Mahajana Sabha” in 1891. During the 1891 census, he urged the members of Scheduled castes to register themselves as “Casteless Dravidians” instead of identifying themselves as Hindus. His activities served as an inspiration to Sri Lanka’s Buddhist revivalist Anagarika Dharmapala
Sources : https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2021/09/03/mes9-tn-cm-reformer-memorial.html
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
- Consider the following statement with regard to The Manjara
- It passes through the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka and Telangana
- It along with River Haridra merges with mighty River Godavari
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer : D
It also spelled Manjara or Manjeera, is a tributary of the river Godavari. It passes through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. It originates in the Balaghat range of hills near Ahmednagar district at an altitude of 823 metres and empties into the Godavari River
Manjira River, in the first two third of its length generally flows from west to east direction, until Sanga Reddy town in Telangana, little northerly to which it changes its course and flows north. Final stretch of the River forms the border between Maharashtra to the West and Telangana to the East. Manjira River along with River Haridra merges with mighty River Godavari at the border, with Dharmabad of Maharashtra, westerly and Kandakurthi south-easterly in Telangana. This triveni sangam is sacred for Hindus. The famous sacred Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam in Basar,Nirmal district, Telangana is located little downstream along River Godava. Tributaries are Terna, Manyad,Lendi, Gharni and Tawarja
- Consider the following statement with regard to C. Iyothee Thass
- He was a prominent Kerala anti-caste activist
- He organized the Todas and other tribes of the Nilgiri Hills into a formidable
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer : B
He was a prominent Tamil anti-caste activist and a practitioner of Siddha medicine. He famously converted to Buddhism and called upon the Paraiyars to do the same, arguing that this was their original religion. He also founded the Punchmar Mahajana Sabha in 1891 along with Rettamalai Srinivasan. Punchamas are the ones who do not come under Varna system; they are called as Avarnas.
He organized the Todas and other tribes of the Nilgiri Hills into a formidable force. In 1876, Thass established the Advaidananda Sabha and launched a magazine called Dravida Pandian in collaboration with Rev. John Rathinam. In 1886, Thass issued a revolutionary declaration that Scheduled caste people (Dalits) were not Hindus. Following this declaration, he established the “Dravida Mahajana Sabha” in 1891. During the 1891 census, he urged the members of Scheduled castes to register themselves as “Casteless Dravidians” instead of identifying themselves as Hindus. His activities served as an inspiration to Sri Lanka’s Buddhist revivalist Anagarika Dharmapala