New Delhi – India announced on thursday it will upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, a significant diplomatic shift that signals deepening engagement with Afghanistan's Taliban-led government. The decision came during a landmark six-day visit to India by the Taliban's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the first such high-level engagement since the group returned to power in 2021.
The announcement was made by India's external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, following a meeting with Muttaqi in New Delhi. India had shut down its embassy during the fall of Kabul four years ago. This move marks a cautious but clear reset in relations, pointing towards a de facto recognition of the Taliban regime as both nations pursue pragmatic cooperation.
During the visit, which began on wednesday, the two ministers discussed a range of issues including political cooperation, trade, healthcare collaboration, and consular services. The dialogue underscores the Taliban’s efforts to gain international legitimacy and India’s strategic interest in fostering regional stability and protecting its interests in Afghanistan.
This evolving relationship is set against a complex and tense regional backdrop, particularly concerning Pakistan. The Taliban government views India as a "significant regional and economic partner," partly due to India’s efforts to establish trade routes that bypass Pakistan, primarily through the use of Iran's Chabahar port. This recalibration of ties is widely seen as a diplomatic setback for Pakistan, a traditional ally of the Taliban.
Tensions in the region were highlighted recently when the Taliban accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kabul and Paktika provinces. While Islamabad did not confirm the strikes, it has consistently raised concerns about its territory being used for cross-border attacks by militant groups based in Afghanistan. Some analysts have linked the timing of the alleged strikes to the warming diplomatic ties between Kabul and New Delhi, suggesting they may reflect unease in Islamabad.
India's engagement builds on a long history of relations with Afghanistan. India maintained strong ties with previous Afghan governments and has consistently been a major provider of developmental and humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. The current dialogue seeks to build on these longstanding connections in a challenging new geopolitical landscape.
The diplomatic outreach also aligns with a broader regional consensus. At a recent summit in Moscow attended by representatives from Russia, China, India, and other regional powers, a joint statement was issued opposing the deployment of any foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan. This reflects a collective desire among regional stakeholders to ensure stability in Afghanistan without external military intervention, framing India’s move as part of a coordinated, Asia-centric approach.