India, Afghanistan and Pakistan: Power, Pragmatism and the Taliban | Afghan Eye Podcast

In this episode of the Afghan Eye Podcast, Sangar Paykhar speaks with Indian strategic analyst Sushant Sareen about the rapidly shifting geopolitics of South Asia.

The conversation examines India’s evolving engagement with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, and Pakistan’s deteriorating leverage over Afghan affairs. Sareen offers a candid Indian perspective on regional stability, sovereignty, and why Afghanistan remains central to Asian geopolitics despite Western disengagement.

Key topics discussed include:

• India’s pragmatic approach to the Taliban since 2021
• Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions and cross-border security crises
• The limits of coercion and proxy politics in the region
• Connectivity via Iran, Chabahar, and Central Asia
• Why Afghanistan still matters in a multipolar Asia

Sushant Sareen's page: https://www.orfonline.org/people-expert/sushant-sareen

Sushant Sareen on X: https://x.com/sushantsareen