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An Analysis of India’s Soft Power Policy in Afghanistan

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  • Peerzada Tufail Ahmad

    (* Peerzada Tufail Ahmad is a recipient of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Doctoral Fellowship (2018–2019). His article is largely an outcome of his doctoral work sponsored by ICSSR. However, the responsibility for the facts stated, opinions expressed and conclusions drawn is entirely that of the author.
    Peerzada Tufail Ahmad is an Assistant Professor (MIR) at the Faculty of Social Science, Kardan University, Kabul, Afghanistan. His expertise includes IR, South-Asia, Indo-Afghan Relations, and Indian soft power.)

Abstract

Since 2001, India has pursued a non-military, non-coercive and co-optive (soft power) policy towards Afghanistan. India’s soft power approach of forging economic (aid), humanitarian, capacity building and institutional links vis-à -vis Afghanistan tried to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan government (pre-August 2021) and the ordinary Afghans. The data reveal that India has impacted and generated goodwill by spending billions of dollars on infrastructure. The method used in this study is primarily analytical and explanatory. The research for this study is based on both primary and secondary sources, collected from both archival and online resources. The focus of this article is to comprehensively study and evaluate the usefulness of India’s soft power policy in Afghanistan since 2001.

Suggested Citation

  • Peerzada Tufail Ahmad, 2022. "An Analysis of India’s Soft Power Policy in Afghanistan," India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, , vol. 78(4), pages 634-653, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indqtr:v:78:y:2022:i:4:p:634-653
    DOI: 10.1177/09749284221127787
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nye, Joseph S., 2008. "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power," Scholarly Articles 11738397, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    2. Joseph S. Nye Jr., 2008. "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 616(1), pages 94-109, March.
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