Sunday , April 26 2026

Muttaqi’s historic visit marks India’s bold and pragmatic foreign policy shift

admin October 11, 2025 National

New Delhi, Oct 11 – In a significant diplomatic development, India on Friday announced the upgrading of its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy, marking a turning point in its engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration.

The announcement was made by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar during a high-level meeting with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is on a landmark visit to India—the first by a senior Taliban official since the group seized power in August 2021.

“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” said Jaishankar. “This upgrade reflects our intent to deepen cooperation for Afghanistan’s national development and regional stability.”

Diplomatic Reboot Amid Security Concerns

Muttaqi’s visit, cleared under a special UN travel ban exemption, signals a strategic recalibration of India’s Afghanistan policy. While New Delhi has yet to formally recognize the Taliban regime, the visit indicates growing backchannel and now overt diplomatic exchanges.

Initial contact began in late 2024 when Indian diplomat J.P. Singh held talks in Kabul. This was followed by a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Muttaqi in Dubai earlier this year, and regular communication after key events such as the Pahalgam terror attack in April and a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan in August.

During the meeting, India appreciated Afghanistan’s strong condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, and reiterated its concerns over terrorism originating from Afghan territory. Muttaqi, in turn, reaffirmed Kabul’s commitment that Afghan soil will not be used to threaten other nations.

Tensions with Pakistan Add to Regional Complexity

The visit comes amid increasing hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants responsible for deadly attacks on its forces. In August alone, Pakistan witnessed over 140 terrorist incidents, according to Islamabad-based think tanks.

The situation worsened after a Pakistani airstrike on Afghanistan’s Paktika province, which reportedly killed 46 people. Kabul has denied harboring the TTP, but the episode has strained ties.

Observers see India’s outreach to the Taliban as a move to counterbalance Pakistan’s influence in the region and assert India’s independent foreign policy amid shifting geopolitical alignments.

India’s Development Footprint Expands

India has long maintained a deep developmental and cultural relationship with Afghanistan, having invested over $3 billion in more than 500 projects across sectors such as infrastructure, health, power, and education.

During Muttaqi’s visit, India announced:

  • Six new development projects

  • Donation of 20 ambulances, MRI/CT machines, and medicines

  • Plans to complete stalled infrastructure projects and maintain existing ones

  • Support for Afghan refugees forcibly repatriated by Pakistan, including construction of homes and aid for livelihoods

  • Collaboration on water resource management

Jaishankar also highlighted India’s readiness to support Afghanistan in healthcare and capacity-building, including the expansion of medical cooperation through new clinics and diagnostic centres.

Soft Diplomacy: Education and Cricket

As part of its people-to-people outreach, India has committed to:

  • Increasing student, business, and medical visas for Afghan nationals

  • Expanding higher education opportunities in Indian universities

  • Continuing support for the Afghan national cricket team

“The ties between our peoples are built on mutual respect, history, and shared aspirations,” Jaishankar noted. “India will continue to support the people of Afghanistan in this challenging time.”

A Delicate but Decisive Step

While India remains cautious in extending formal recognition to the Taliban administration, Muttaqi’s visit and the decision to upgrade the diplomatic mission signal a new phase in bilateral ties.

As geopolitical dynamics evolve in the region, India appears committed to pursuing a balanced approach—focusing on regional security, humanitarian support, and long-term stability in Afghanistan.(pressmediaofindia.com

I

Check Also

Opposition parties opposing women’s quota, delimitation for politics: Kishan Reddy New Delhi, April 17 (PMI): Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday accused the opposition parties of resisting the Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Bills for political mileage. Talking to newsmen, he asserted that the Centre’s proposed formula ensures fairness to all states, rejecting claims of injustice to southern regions. Reddy alleged that parties fear losing dominance if new leadership emerges through reservations and constituency changes. He also criticized regional parties for spreading “false propaganda” and called for a public debate on the issue. “Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Central Government delivered a very clear message that no state would suffer any injustice whatsoever. Unlike the manner in which the delimitation was conducted when the Congress party was in power, we are introducing a Bill that is favorable and acceptable to all, ensuring equitable justice for every state. Despite this, the opposition continues to engage in false propaganda within Parliament. Citing census data, they claimed that the population in the South was declining and that the region would be penalized for having successfully implemented family planning measures. Initially, their argument was that if the constituency delimitation were to be undertaken following the census, the South would inevitably face injustice. However, today, recognizing the sentiments of the people and ensuring that the number of seats in the South does not diminish, the Modi government has introduced a formula involving a 50% increase”, he noted. Further, Kishan Reddy alleged that from the very beginning, it has been a calculated conspiracy by the Majlis party to ensure that the women are denied any form of political reservation. Statements made by Majlis party leaders specifically Akbaruddin Owaisi suggesting that the entry of the women into politics would give rise to new complications and problems, are officially recorded in the Assembly records. Fearing that a delimitation of constituencies in Hyderabad could jeopardize their own seats, the Majlis party is now conspiring in tandem with both the Congress and the BRS parties . Having held consultations with these two parties, the Majlis party is actively campaigning against both the proposed delimitation and the provision of Women’s reservations”, he remarked. (PMI)

New Delhi, April 17 (PMI): Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday accused the opposition parties …

Powered by Press Media of India
© Copyright 2026, All Rights Reserved.