In this episode, Shanthie Mariet D'Souza joins Shibani Mehta to analyze the question of aid and development in a Taliban led Afghanistan. The Western withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ensuing ascent of the Taliban has led to the collapse of the Afghan economy. The foreign aid, crucial towards sustaining the economy, has mostly stopped, resulting in food shortages, a decline in the value of local currency and a collapsing health system. While $1.2 billion has been pledged by international donors, it remains unclear whether this will be sufficient in restoring any semblance of normalcy in Afghanistan. How will aid to Afghanistan be structured after the ascent of the Taliban government? How will India, a key development partner in Afghanistan, approach its aid policy in the wake of the Taliban takeover? And finally, what will this situation mean for the future of Afghanistan’s development?  

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EPISODE CONTRIBUTORS

Shanthie Mariet D’Souza is the founder and president of Mantraya, an independent research forum that seeks to make constructive contributions in the realm of strategy, innovation and alternatives. She is also a founding professor at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, at GITAM University, Hyderabad.  

Shibani Mehta is a research analyst with the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. Her research focuses on India’s security and foreign policies.

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Additional Reading:

1. No Time to Lose on Afghanistan by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza 

2. Interview: Shanthie Mariet D’Souza on how India was ‘ill-prepared’ for the dramatic Taliban takeover  by Rohan  Venkataramakrishnan

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