Web Desk; India has announced the reopening of its embassy in Kabul, nearly four years after it was shut down following the Talibanās takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
The decision was confirmed by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during talks with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi ā marking the first visit by a Taliban leader to India since 2021.
India had closed its embassy when US-led NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan, but later opened a limited ātechnical missionā to support trade, medical aid, and humanitarian assistance.
Jaishankar said that this mission will now be upgraded to a full-fledged embassy, reflecting New Delhiās commitment to Afghanistanās sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
āCloser cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience,ā Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.
He added that India, as a neighboring country and well-wisher, has a strong interest in Afghanistanās progress.
Muttaqi, meanwhile, described India as a āclose friend,ā noting that New Delhi was the first to respond to the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. He expressed hope for relations based on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people connections.
Although India has not formally recognized the Taliban government, it has gradually increased engagement through official talks.
The announcement coincided with Muttaqiās participation in a regional meeting in Moscow, where Afghanistanās neighbors issued a joint statement opposing the deployment of foreign military infrastructure in the region ā widely seen as a response to US President Donald Trumpās plan to retake control of Bagram airbase near Kabul.
