As the United States and Russia hold high-level talks regarding the future of Ukraine—without including Ukraine itself—India can't help but reflect on its own past. The sidelining of Ukraine serves as a painful reminder of how powerful nations have repeatedly shaped the fates of others, often ignoring the lives affected by their decisions.
This situation echoes the colonial hubris seen during the Partition of India in 1947, when Britain hastily withdrew and imposed arbitrary borders, showing little regard for the human and geopolitical ramifications. For India, Ukraine's absence from these discussions represents more than just a diplomatic oversight; it symbolizes a deep historical injustice. The underlying message is unmistakable: larger powers often dictate the paths of smaller nations, disregarding their sovereignty and right to self-determination.
India understands that history teaches us that peace agreements made without justice fail to foster lasting stability; instead, they tend to reward those who act aggressively. During his first term, former US President Donald Trump's so-called "peace deal" in Afghanistan was merely a withdrawal agreement that returned control to the Taliban. The outcome? A reversal of two decades of progress, the disintegration of Afghan democracy, and the resurgence of a harsh, extremist regime that stripped away the rights of Afghan women, minorities, and dissenters. Rather than fostering a positive peace that promotes justice, stability, and prosperity, Trump's agreement left the Afghan people facing an uncertain and regressive future.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)