Days after India condemned Pakistan's airstrike on Afghanistan's Paktika province that killed 46 people, the Taliban government has called New Delhi a "significant regional and economic partner".
A meeting was held between Afghan Taliban leadership and Indian officials in Dubai on Wednesday, the first such high-level interaction between the two sides since 2021.
Foreign Secy @VikramMisri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai today.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 8, 2025
Both sides discussed 🇮🇳's ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bilateral issues and security situation in the region. India reiterated its commitment to… pic.twitter.com/a3UyuIqkAG
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed cooperation and trade via the Chabahar Port in Iran.
Is India growing closer to Taliban government because of Pakistan?
India is yet to officially recognise the Taliban government but forging strong ties with Afghanistan seem to be the way forward, considering their common regional rival Pakistan. Both sides reviewed the security situaton in the region, with Misri saying New Delhi was ready to expand ties with Kabul in political and economic fields.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have been at loggerheads over the disputed border, Durrand Line. The Taliban forces targeted several areas on the border following the deadly airstrikes by Pakistan.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India uniquivocally condemns any attack on innocent civilians, saying it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame neighbours for its own internal failures.
This comes as India recently reopened its diplomatic mission in Kabul. The Taliban assured New Delhi that there is no danger to anyone from Afghanistan, hoping to bolster ties with India. The delegation from Kabul assured New Delhi that Afghan territory would not be allowed to be used against India.
During the meeting on Wednesday, India said it is prepared to respond to the urgent developmental needs of the Afghan people, agreeing to Kabul's request for supply of materials in the health sector as well as support in rehabilitating refugees. This is a marked improvement from India's previous stance of limiting support through humanitarian aid.
In late 2021, India sent 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan when it was hit by drought besides 27 tonnes of earthquake relief aid. It has also dispatched 300 tonnes of medicines, 100 million polio doses, 1.5 million Covid vaccine and 11,000 hygiene kits for drug de-addiction.
