India to restore Embassy in Kabul as Taliban plans envoy

In a move that could pave the way for formal recognition of Taliban 2.0, India on Friday announced that it will upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged diplomatic mission. The decision came as Afghanistan's Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi - the first high-level engagement between India and the Taliban regime since it seized power in 2021.

Muttaqi, addressing a select media briefing, said the Taliban would soon post a diplomat to its mission in New Delhi and eventually appoint an ambassador. So far, Russia remains the only country to have extended diplomatic recognition to the Taliban government.

The talks came amid renewed tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. Hours before Muttaqi's visit, Pakistan launched cross-border strikes in Afghanistan. Responding sharply from Indian soil, Muttaqi said, "the courage of Afghans should not be tested. If someone wants to do this, they should ask the Soviet Union, America and NATO... it is not good to play games with Afghanistan." He added that Kabul "would not allow any group to use its territory against another country" and urged Pakistan to resolve disputes through dialogue.


During the talks, Jaishankar thanked Afghanistan for its condemnation of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and its message of solidarity. Both sides "unequivocally" condemned terrorism emanating from regional countries and underlined the need for "peace, stability and mutual trust" in the region.

Development Focus
The two ministers also discussed expanding development cooperation. India will build a 30-bed hospital, an oncology centre, a trauma centre in Kabul, and five maternity clinics in Paktika, Khost, and Paktia. It will also gift 20 ambulances, continue medical treatment for Afghan nationals, support Afghan students, and assist in reconstructing homes in earthquake-hit areas.

Muttaqi ruled out any possibility of handing over the Bagram base to the US and suggested Washington pursue diplomatic ties instead. He highlighted the strategic role of Iran's Chabahar Port as Afghanistan's trade gateway to India and said New Delhi and Kabul could engage with the US on lifting sanctions linked to the port.

Both sides also agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects, expand trade - including through the India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor - and deepen collaboration in mining, culture, and sports, particularly cricket.