Afghanistan mineral resources and implications on India's future

• With discovery of valuable mineral deposits in Afghanistan, India has joined the race for their acquisition.
• India will have to revisit its currently dominant development paradigm.
• India will have to redefine its role in the region as it transitions from a silent Samaritan to natural resource stakeholder.

With discovery of valuable mineral deposits in Afghanistan, the race for their acquisition has heated up. The paper attempts to evaluate the implications of Afghanistan mineral resources on possible Indian futures. The currently dominant development paradigm is challenged as a purchased future and the need for redefining India's role in the region is put forward. There is a dire need of re-evaluating the development paradigm and euphoria, surrounding India's march towards global leadership. There is also a need to re-evaluate the role of India in Afghanistan, as it transitions from a silent Samaritan to natural resource stakeholder. It is feared that the race to keep up the development paradigm may usher India into a cut-throat competition with other stakeholders in Afghanistan.