Sir — This refers to the article “Dealing with a new Afghanistan” (April 30) by Mayuri Mukherjee. Afghanistan is a land-locked country and has strategic access to Central Asia. It has close neighbours like Pakistan and Iran but no land borders with India. However, before Partition in 1947, India had a long land-link with Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had made a Himalayan blunder by accepting Partition and, later, giving Tibet to China on a platter. These two blunders now have an adverse impact on India’s security.
Historically, ‘Bamyan’ and Buddhism were India’s gifts to Afghanistan. These the Taliban destroyed. Few protested the loss although the world was up in arms when one single mosque was demolished in India in 1992.
In the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh inflicted a humiliating and crushing defeat on the Afghans. He was one of the greatest warriors of India and should not be forgotten. Also, keep in mind that Afghans are our traditional friends.