What would we need for a successful Hindu Afganistan? What changes would arise globally from that in turn?
Could Southeast Asia remaining Hinduist/Buddhist facilitate trade between the Malay states and the Indian states? If yes, would this not lead to advances in shipbuilding?
Perhaps an alliance between Afganistan becomes traditional and lasting? Perhaps a state as far as Calicut, which might combined with the previously presumed increased trade and resultant advances in maritime technology become a maritime power it its own right? If there are Indian states with stronger, more advanced navies, they would have a smaller gap to close between them and the European explorers and traders, making it likely that India would not become just a particularly valuable place for colonial empires to set up outposts and annex land. Instead, Indian nations could end up being treated as equals and trading partners. If there are still powerful Islamic states in North Africa and Anatolia as OTL, European states might even see Indian states which are successfully fending Islam off as valuable allies.