India will reopen its embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, nearly four years after shutting it down following the Taliban’s return to power, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced on Friday — a move signaling New Delhi’s growing engagement with the Taliban administration.
According to Reuters, India had closed its diplomatic mission in Kabul in 2021 after the Taliban seized control following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces. A limited “technical mission” was later established in 2022 to oversee humanitarian aid, trade, and medical assistance.
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“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” Jaishankar said during talks with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is on a six-day visit to India — the first by a Taliban leader since 2021.
Jaishankar added that closer cooperation between the two sides would contribute to Afghanistan’s “national development, as well as regional stability and resilience,” confirming that the technical mission would be upgraded to a full-fledged embassy. He did not specify a timeline for the reopening.
About a dozen countries, including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, currently maintain embassies in Kabul. Of these, only Russia has formally recognised the Taliban government.
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Muttaqi’s visit comes as the Taliban seek to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with regional powers. His travel was permitted after the UN Security Council temporarily lifted a travel ban on him to enable official engagements abroad.
India and Afghanistan have long shared friendly relations, though New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban government. Western nations have withheld recognition over the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights.
Talks between Jaishankar and Muttaqi are expected to cover political, economic, and trade cooperation.
