Senior foreign ministry officials from both countries held the highest level of talks since the Afghan group’s capture of Kabul in 2021.
The Taliban called India an “important regional and economic partner” after the best talks between foreign ministry officials from the two countries since the capture of Kabul by Afghan insurgents in 2021.
According to reports, India’s Foreign Minister Vikram Misri met with the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry later said in a statement that the two countries discussed expanding ties and promoting trade through Iran’s Chabahar port, which India is developing to bypass rival Pakistan’s Karachi and Gwadar ports. Announced.
“In line with Afghanistan’s balanced and economically focused foreign policy, the Islamic emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as an important regional and economic partner,” the statement said. said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement after the meeting that New Delhi is considering involvement in development projects in Afghanistan and aims to strengthen trade ties.
India, which hosts thousands of Afghan refugees, also said it would provide “material support” for their rehabilitation in their homeland. Approximately 1 million refugees have been returned to Afghanistan by Pakistan and Iran since the end of 2023.
“In response to the request of the Afghan side, India will initially provide further material support in the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Afghan officials said they have already begun distributing land to returning Afghan refugees.
India also said it would provide additional support to Afghanistan’s health sector as the two countries discuss strengthening sports ties, particularly in cricket.
No foreign government, including India, officially recognizes the Taliban regime. However, in June 2022, less than a year after the Taliban returned to power, India reopened its embassy in Kabul and sent a team of “technical experts” to carry out this mission.
Meanwhile, the Afghan embassy in New Delhi was closed in November 2023 after diplomats appointed by the Afghan government, who were ousted by the Taliban, were unable to secure visa extensions from the Indian nationals they were staying with.
But in November last year, the Taliban announced the appointment of Ikramuddin Kamil as deputy consul in Mumbai.
India is also one of several countries facilitating trade, aid and medical assistance, and sending humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
New Delhi has so far sent several shipments of wheat, medicine, coronavirus vaccines and winter clothing to Afghanistan.
Wednesday’s talks come amid rising tensions between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, which last week launched an operation to wipe out so-called militant groups in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province. Islamabad claims that the Pakistani Taliban is using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan, a charge denied by Kabul.
The airstrike killed dozens of people, mainly women and children. Earlier this week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs told reporters it condemned the airstrikes carried out on mainland Afghanistan.
India and Pakistan have long been rivals and have fought three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
On Wednesday, the Afghan sides underlined their sensitivity to India’s security concerns and “agreed to remain in touch and continue regular contacts at various levels,” an Indian statement said. .
