Wars do happen between democracies, but it is pretty rare. There are much fewer wars between democracies than autocracies, and, with few exceptions, they were mostly short, small wars.
Pakistan would not have the same soft power and hard power of a united India, there is no way Afghanistan can upset a united India and be safe about itIn OTL the kingdom did have an anti-Pakistan policy and did have close cooperation with the Soviets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan–Pakistan_relations#Historical_context
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan–Russia_relations#The_USSR
In OTL the kingdom did have an anti-Pakistan policy and did have close cooperation with the Soviets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan–Pakistan_relations#Historical_context
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan–Russia_relations#The_USSR
What would India do that Pakistan didn't do in OTL.United India would be too strong to be antagonised. It would be much stronger than Pakistan which is only just local power unlike very powerful united India.
India, having more resources will be able to control Afghanistan more easily, also, afganistan would not want to antagonise IndiaWhat would India do that Pakistan didn't do in OTL.
How does more resources translate into Afghanistan doing what India wants or even having the ability to do so.India, having more resources will be able to control Afghanistan more easily, also, afganistan would not want to antagonise India
A united India would a very much larger regional power than OTL Pakistan, with few if any local threats only China on the other side of the relatively inaccessible Himalayas and other small powers that it could crush if it needed to, would Afghanistan be willing to provoke India knowing that it would almost certainly lose?How does more resources translate into Afghanistan doing what India wants or even having the ability to do so.
Unless India invades Afghanistan which opens up a nasty can of worms, it's not much of an issue. Not to mention the borderlands of Afghanistan were and are essentially lawless. Merrily telling Afghanistan to stop isn't going to do anything. Any attempt to force the kingdom to take act against anti-Indian rebels will result in earlier republican coup or force it fully into the arms of Soviets.would Afghanistan be willing to provoke India knowing that it would almost certainly lose?
India would still wield pUnless India invades Afghanistan which opens up a nasty can of worms, it's not much of an issue. Not to mention the borderlands of Afghanistan were and are essentially lawless. Merrily telling Afghanistan to stop isn't going to do anything. Any attempt to force the kingdom to take act against anti-Indian rebels will result in earlier republican coup or force it fully into the arms of Soviets.
Doesn't solve the problems I mentioned.India would still wield p
Massive soft power in Afghanistan
India's Relationship with Afghanistan would be similar to its relationship with Nepal, Sure Afghanistan would have Other Friends, but India would be its number one ally and Afghanistan would be heavily dependent on itDoesn't solve the problems I mentioned.
Afghanistan can like it has done historical play off the Russians,Persian, and whoever lays to the South.Nepal doesn't have any irredentist feeling to India and a large ungoverned mountainous borderland with no will or ability to do anything about it. Unlike Pakistan, India can't go for the brothers in Islam route and the Pashtuns in India will be reduced to irrelevant border tribe,unlike Pakistan where They make large portion of population and leadership.India's Relationship with Afghanistan would be similar to its relationship with Nepal,
that is true as well, But remember, Pashtuns supported Congress till the very endAfghanistan can like it has done historical play off the Russians,Persian, and whoever lays to the South.Nepal doesn't have any irredentist feeling to India and a large ungoverned mountainous borderland with no will or ability to do anything about it. Unlike Pakistan, India can't go for the brothers in Islam route and the Pashtuns in India will be reduced to irrelevant border tribe,unlike Pakistan where They make large portion of population and leadership.
Large minority did support the League and support can change over time.that is true as well, But remember, Pashtuns supported Congress till the very end
If you are asking OTL India, it is Indian, They always identify as Indian and then say which state they are, Regional and Religious Identity are subservient to national identity, so In TTL India, it would be more or less same and yes, congress has the ability and leaders to appeal to Muslims, especially Pasthunsgot a question what is the union of india identity like? Is it regional people identify as punjabi and bengali or is there a common identity? If the former i can see Afghanistan causing more shit in the union as the pashtun are maybe more likely to breakaway. Also the position of muslims in general lets go with @Srihari14 idea of jinnah staying in london politically what will muslims do? if the muslims feel threatened i can easily see pashtun seeing joining the motherland as a viable option. If the congress can successfully appeal to muslims maybe it will be afghanistan funding fundamentalism to break off secular muslims.
BTW whats the chances of a muslim political party forming in india? not a separatist but a party to represent muslims in national level.
but wouldn't doubling the muslim population with muslim majority states such Sind, Punjab, Bengal, Pashtunisatn not have political consequences? Wouldn't muslims tactically vote to keep any hindu nationalist out of power. It sounds like a united india will head down the roads of democratic dictatorship with congress always winning. Congress have their normal support but then also all the muslim support nationally if the BJP is otl, as muslims have no other choice.and Unfortunately, Chances are very low, Most muslims in India have their Regional Party representing regional interests like Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, etc, and Most Muslim Politicians have nothing to attract muslim voters other than religion
There is a very big reason why Congress is considered a sympathetic to Muslims while BJP is not, its because constantly appeals to muslims to vote for them, Any good muslim leader usually joins Congress due to the fact it helps them elevate into a national status, After Partition, Muslims in subcontinent faced an severe problem of lack of leadership as all good leaders went to Pakistan, this wont happen in TTL, there could also be another alternative emerging in This Indiabut wouldn't doubling the muslim population with muslim majority states such Sind, Punjab, Bengal, Pashtunisatn not have political consequences? Wouldn't muslims tactically vote to keep any hindu nationalist out of power. It sounds like a united india will head down the roads of democratic dictatorship with congress always winning. Congress have their normal support but then also all the muslim support nationally if the BJP is otl, as muslims have no other choice.
also i feel like afghanistan won't have the relations they with india otl because pakistan doesn't exist. With the pashtunistan being so far away from the heartland would people in Delhi, Kerala, and Hyderabad even care enough to put strong enough pressure on afghanistan to stop. China annexed indian land india doesn't seem to care from what ive seen.