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Vishal Chandra

Joined MP-IDSA
October 2003
Expertise
Politics of Afghan Conflict
Education
M.Phil., School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; studied social-cultural Anthropology and History for undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses.
Background
He qualified the National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lectureship conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in the year 2000, and was a recipient of the UGC fellowship on Area Studies Programme at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
He was associated with the Reintegration, Reconstruction & Reconciliation (R3) Working Group on Afghanistan, an initiative of the RNSSC/NESA Center for Strategic Studies, Washington D.C. He has also been associated with the India-Pakistan Track-II dialogue organised by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES, India).
He regularly lectures on Afghan affairs at various institutions. As part of his research, he has travelled widely in Afghanistan.
He is also Member of the MP-IDSA Web Editorial Team.
Select Publications
Book
The Unfinished War in Afghanistan: 2001-2014, MP-IDSA, Pentagon Press, New Delhi, 2014Reviews: Journal of Slavic Military Studies (Routledge, July-September 2015 issue), India Today/Mail Today (March 08, 2015), The Pioneer (Sunday Edition, March 08, 2015), The Book Review (February 2015), The New Straits Times (Kuala Lumpur, January 2015), Indian Foreign Affairs Journal (October-December 2014), Amar Ujala (Hindi, Sunday Edition, March 22, 2015) and Nai Dunia (Hindi, January 2015)
Edited Books
“India and South Asia: Exploring Regional Perceptions,” MP-IDSA, Pentagon Press, New Delhi, 2015
“India’s Neighbourhood: The Armies of South Asia”, MP-IDSA, Pentagon Press, New Delhi, 2013
“India’s Neighbourhood: Challenges Ahead”, MP-IDSA, Rubicon Publishers, Delhi, 2008 (co-edited)
Book Chapters
“Beijing: Kabul’s ‘Reliable’ Strategic Partner”, in Jagannath Prasad Panda (ed.), MP-IDSA China Year Book: China’s Transition Under Xi Jinping, Pentagon Press, New Delhi, 2016.
“Where is Afghanistan Headed?”, in Arpita Basu Roy and Srimanti Sarkar (eds.), The Political Future of Afghanistan: Issues and Perspectives , Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), KW Publishers, New Delhi, 2016.
“Afghanistan 2014: Towards Uncertainty” in Maneesha Tikekar (ed.), Constitutionalism and Democracy in South Asia, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2014.
“Afghanistan Beyond 2014: The China Factor”, in S.D. Muni & Vivek Chadha (eds.), Asian Strategic Review, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, Pentagon Press, 2013. (co-authored)
“Afghanistan’s National Army: Expectations and Scepticism”, in India’s Neighbourhood: The Armies of South Asia, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, Pentagon Press, 2013.
“Afghanistan: Likely Scenarios & India’s Policy Options” in Rumel Dahiya & Ashok K. Behuria (eds.), India’s Neighbourhood: Challenges in the Next Two Decades, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, Pentagon Security International, 2012.
“Negotiating with the Afghan Taliban: Paving the Way to Peace or Civil War?”, in Arpita Basu Roy, Binoda Kumar Mishra & Aliva Mishra (eds.), International Intervention in Afghanistan: Motives & Approaches, New Delhi, Shipra Publications, 2012.
“Growing Afghan Maze: An Opportunity for Indo-Iranian Re-Engagement?”, in Anwar Alam (ed.), India and Iran: An Assessment of Contemporary Relations, New Delhi, New Century Publications, July 2011.
“Indo-Afghan Relations: Trends & Challenges” in India’s Foreign Policy: Continuity & Change, Delhi, Academic Excellence, 2008.
“Afghanistan: Divided Defenders of Democracy” in S.D. Muni (ed.), IDSA Asian Strategic Review 2008 and “Afghanistan: Growing Uncertainties” in S.D. Muni(ed.), MP-IDSA Asian Strategic Review 2007, New Delhi, Academic Foundation.
“The Taliban Resurrection & the Changing Course of Afghan Civil War” in K. Warikoo (ed.), Afghanistan: The Challenge, New Delhi, Pentagon Press, 2007.
Articles
“India Should Stay the Course”, Debate, Afghanistan Post-2014: India’s Options, Indian Foreign Affairs Journal, 8 (3), July-September, 2013.
“The Evolving Politics of Taliban Reintegration and Reconciliation in Afghanistan”, Strategic Analysis, 35 (5), September 2011.
“Russia’s Growing Afghan Re-Engagement”, Strategic Analysis, 35 (4), July 2011.
“India in the Afghan Maze: Search for Options”, Debate, Strategic Analysis,35(1), January 2011.
“The National Front in Afghan Politics: An Exploratory Study”, Strategic Analysis, 33 (4), July 2009.
“Making of the New Afghan National Army: Challenges & Prospects”, Strategic Analysis, 33 (1), January 2009.
“Will NATO Stay On in Afghanistan?”, Strategic Analysis, 33 (5), September 2009.
“Taliban Resurrection: Challenges and Options before India”, World Focus, 27 (9), September 2006.
“Warlords, Drugs and the ‘War on Terror’ in Afghanistan: The Paradoxes”, Strategic Analysis, Special Issue, 30(1), January-March 2006.
“The Afghan Elections and the Bonn Process: Assessing India’s Options”, Strategic Analysis, 29 (4), October-December 2005.
“Politicsin Post-Taliban Afghanistan: An Assessment”, Strategic Analysis, 29 (2), April-June 2005.
Short Articles/Commentaries
“Need to Take a More Confident View of Kabul”, April 28, 2015
“Tackling Terror: Kabul Has Tough, Long Road Ahead”, Sunday Spotlight, Deccan Herald, December 28, 2014, p. 7.
“Total Recount in Afghanistan: What Next?”, MP-IDSA Issue Brief, July 26, 2014
“Will Transition of Power in Afghanistan be Smooth?”, Saturday Special Op-Ed, The Pioneer, May 10, 2014, p. 9.
‘For Now, it is Ballot over Bullet in Afghanistan’, April 18, 2014.
‘Training programmes will continue even in worst case scenario’, The Sunday Indian, March 3, 2013 issue.
“Working with an emerging ‘New Afghanistan’”, Deccan Herald, November 25, 2012
“Post-2014 Afghanistan and India’s Options”, MP-IDSA Policy Brief, July 18, 2012 (co-authored).
“Fantasising ‘Afghan Good Enough’”, June 22, 2012.
“Will Karzai Survive 2014?”, May 22, 2012.
“The Battle for Kabul has Begun”, April 18, 2012.
“The Bonn II Conference on Afghanistan: A Step Forward Amidst Uncertainty”, December 19, 2011.
“The July 7 Attack in Kabul and India’s Search for a Response”, July 18, 2008.
“Karzai Raises the Anti-Taliban Rhetoric”, June 30, 2008.
“Afghanistan: Galloping Backward”, December 27, 2006.
“Import of Afghan President’s Visit to India”, April 26, 2006.

  • Research Fellow
  • Email:chandra[dot]vishal[at]gmail[dot]com
  • Phone: +91 11 2671 7983

Publication

Afghanistan: Galloping Backward

That the Taliban power stands resurrected is a fact now. At the same time, the 'war on terror' is also showing signs of fatigue. It has already come to a halt in the north-western tribal expanse of Pakistan, the cradle of the Taliban's resurrection. Dubbed as 'remnants' until recently, the Taliban today are a power to reckon with, effectively redrawing the power equations within Afghanistan.

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Import of Afghan President’s Visit to India

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's four-day state visit to India from April 9-12, 2006 was the fourth since he was appointed Chairman of the Afghan interim administration in December 2001. His visit assumes significance in the backdrop of heightened violence in Afghanistan, the inclusion of Afghanistan in SAARC with India's facilitation, the recent political row between Afghanistan and Pakistan over the issue of cross-border terrorism, and the March 2006 visit of President Bush to the Subcontinent.

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Warlords, Drugs and the ‘War on Terror’ in Afghanistan: The Paradoxes

The US-led ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan has led to the re-establishment of the warlords, and has failed to adequately address the issue of drug menace in an effective manner. As the Bonn process ended with the September 2005 elections, and the US forces are likely to partially withdraw this year, it is pertinent to evaluate the ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan and its implications for the post-election Afghanistan.

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The Afghan Elections and the Bonn Process: Assessing India’s Options

The thrice postponed Afghan parliamentary and provincial council elections are finally over. But, is the Bonn-mandated political process over? With the US intent on cutting down its troop levels in Afghanistan this year, is the ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan also over? It is being said that the Bonn process has concluded with the September 18, 2005 elections. If so, then it is pertinent to examine the end-result of the four-year political process and the recently concluded elections.

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Politics in Post-Taliban Afghanistan: An Assessment

The Afghan war is far from over. With the political process that began in December 2001 having completed three years, it is pertinent to revisit and examine the course of the post-Taliban Afghan politics. Afghanistan’s attempt to move towards peace and democracy has been perilous and remains so. The ouster of the Taliban and subsequent signing of the Bonn Agreement at the end of 2001 marked yet another turning point in the long-drawn Afghan conundrum.

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