The incident of Afghan trucks held up at the Wagah border has highlighted issues in the cooperation among countries in South Asia. The opening of Pakistan’s border for Afghan trucks delivering humanitarian aid to India suggests goodwill in the region, but India’s decision not to let the trucks move forward has caught many off-guard. By doing this, India broke the main supply line for Afghanistan and clearly highlighted the inconsistencies in its statements about regional connection and caring for people.

New Delhi has, without meaning to, demonstrated how its behaviour in politics affects both the lives and safety of its neighbours

The decision to halt the Afghan trucks at the Wagah border, despite Pakistan helping out, shows that New Delhi is guided by its own interests more than by wanting to help. Denying entry to Afghan goods made it seem that India had fallen short of its goal to be a kind regional influence. This step runs against what India usually supports in the region and what it advocates for as a global partner. As a result, New Delhi has, without meaning to, demonstrated how its behaviour in politics affects both the lives and safety of its neighbours.

Meanwhile, opening up its territory to Afghan vehicles demonstrates that Pakistan wants to help a neighbour who is facing difficulty. Pakistan was still able to support transporting humanitarian aid, highlighting that caring for others is more important for it than engaging in political competition. Since then, Pakistan’s overall policy has been to keep good relations with Afghanistan through all changes in Kabul.

Politicizing the trucking of Afghan goods by India contradicts the basic idea

Due to the country’s economic collapse, lack of food and frequent political instability, Afghanistan desperately calls for help from its neighbours. Humanitarian aid, coming from any source or chosen path, needs to be protected at all times. Politicizing the trucking of Afghan goods by India contradicts the basic idea. As a result of this event, many in the region worry that India is more interested in making deals than in transforming Afghanistan. From what we can tell, India supports the region with its own interests in mind and mainly seeks to counter Pakistan in the area.

Because of these actions, more people believe that there is a shift toward supporting Hindu nationalism in India which leads to strained ties with Muslim nations. Many people believe that not allowing trucks to deliver aid due to religious reasons is a sign that ideology is placed before caring for others. Even with the recent CAA in Kashmir and at the Wagah border, India appears to want regional diplomacy that leaves people out instead of embracing them.

India continues to invest in Afghanistan, but this is not meaningful, if fundamental assistance is hindered due to rivalries in the region

India saying that it is a friendly country to Afghanistan doesn’t make sense when it fails to take action that could alleviate Afghanistan’s problems. India continues to invest in Afghanistan, but this is not meaningful if fundamental assistance is hindered due to rivalries in the region. Aid should never be used to benefit someone politically, regardless of how urgent the lives in danger are. India allowing Afghan vehicles into the country would clearly show that India is sincere in helping Afghanistan.

During difficult times, strong states in a region are expected to overcome political challenges and act in line with humanitarian rules. If India decides not to engage with Afghanistan, the country will lose support abroad and decrease trust among South Asian nations. The situation may make Afghan authorities and neighbouring nations such as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IAG), reconsider their belief in India as a trusted partner. If India’s efforts depend on certain arrangements or outside pressures, they might be considered unreliable by others.

It was a decisive and sensible choice for the Pakistani government to allow Afghan trucks to pass through Pakistan on the way to Wagah because of the complicated India-Pakistan situation

This episode is not like the long period of Pakistani involvement in Afghanistan. Even though Pakistan is not always able to address such tasks, it has nevertheless handled the responsibility of assisting Afghanistan. It was a decisive and sensible choice for the Pakistani government to allow Afghan trucks to pass through Pakistan on the way to Wagah because of the complicated India-Pakistan situation. Even so, it acted this way to support the people of Afghanistan, proving an unwavering care for human well-being.

If the region is to unite and help each other, all countries should create policies guided by humanity, not by hostility

What happened at the Wagah border underlines the truth that cooperation between regions is tested when crises occur. Afghan people are affected by India’s decision to stop trucks at its border, even when Pakistan provides all the support. It shows Afghanistan and nearby countries that in politics, being friends may just be a cover-up. If the region is to unite and help each other, all countries should create policies guided by humanity, not by hostility.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.