D iplomacy has never been gentle or idealistic in South Asia . It’s moulded by a constant push and pull between survival and conviction. This is a region where borders blur, emotions run deep, and history , as well as hard geography, shadow every diplomatic move. At the heart of this equation is India’s long-standing conundrum: should foreign policy be driven by necessity or morality?

Moral positionality requires a tough stand for principles such as human rights, gender equality, and democracy. The diplomatic stance stands for trade, influence, and security to ensure survival across borders. The thin line between these two is a dicey decision each country has to make. For India, that line mostly cuts straight through Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban recaptured power in Kabul,

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