India to upgrade Kabul mission to embassy, deeper tie with Taliban

India to upgrade Kabul mission to embassy, deeper tie with Taliban

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — India will upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced Friday after meeting his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi — marking the first high-level diplomatic contact between the two nations since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

Jaishankar said India remains committed to Afghanistan’s development and sovereignty, pledging cooperation in trade, health, and education. “Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience,” he told reporters after talks with Muttaqi.

Muttaqi, who is under U.N. sanctions but was granted a temporary travel exemption, said Kabul has “always sought good relations with India.” His visit follows a multilateral meeting on Afghanistan in Russia earlier this week involving China, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries.

India’s move reflects a pragmatic shift in its Afghanistan policy — balancing regional strategy and the need to counter Pakistan and China’s growing influence in Kabul. Analysts say the outreach signals a reassessment shaped by lessons from previous disengagement.

“New Delhi doesn’t want Beijing or Islamabad to hold exclusive sway over Afghanistan,” said Praveen Donthi of the International Crisis Group. “Engaging the Taliban helps India develop modest influence and bolster its position as a regional power.”

India established a technical mission in Kabul in 2022 to coordinate humanitarian aid. Despite ideological differences and the Taliban’s restrictions on women, New Delhi has steadily increased engagement through back-channel diplomacy and regional forums.

The Taliban has deepened ties with several countries in recent months. Russia recognized its government in July, and the UAE and China have both strengthened diplomatic and trade links.

While the decision may not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban regime, former Indian ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya cautioned that India should “preserve some levers to enable positive change internally for the benefit of all Afghans.”