As the dust in Kabul settles, countries around the world are weighing their options to decide on a course of action regarding Afghanistan. The Taliban have made promises of a more systematic rule, relying on a less harsh interpretation of the Sharia law, and a safe and secure life for the Afghan people. They have also assured countries elsewhere that Afghanistan will not be used to plan attacks on foreign soil. But the memories of their previous time in power are still too fresh for us to take the militant group at face value.

Reports from the ground are not positive either—there have been several cases of Talibani fighters on ground harassing and looting civilians, and misbehaving with women. Horrific scenes from the capital city have flooded social media as more and more people scramble for a way out.

India, moving cautiously forward, recently opened an official channel of communication with the Taliban. Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal met Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai at the Indian Embassy in Doha to discuss the safe return of Indian nationals stranded in the country. The ambassador also raised concerns of potential anti-India activity being carried out from Afghan soil.

For India, the developments in Afghanistan are naturally alarming. Islamic terrorism has been, and continues to be, a major threat—militant outfits like Taliban, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad are known to be close to each other. There are also fears that the militants in Afghanistan may provoke and nurture threats in Kashmir, supported as they are by Pakistan’s alleged ‘intelligence’ agency – ISI.

In the past, India had squarely placed themselves behind the Northern Alliance—an alliance of rebel groups fighting the Taliban between 1996 and 2001. With the American invasion, and subsequent nation building efforts, heavy investments flew into Afghanistan as India built a strong relationship with the established government. How must India proceed now?