In a first since India withdrew all its diplomatic staff from Afghanistan following the return of the Taliban in August last year, the government has sent a team led by MEA joint secretary J P Singh to Kabul to “oversee” delivery of New Delhi’s humanitarian aid to the country and also engage with senior Taliban leaders on the issue.
Singh, who handles the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division of the foreign ministry, met Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The meeting, described by Muttaqi as a good beginning, focused on diplomatic relations, bilateral trade and humanitarian aid with the Taliban seeking resumption of Indian projects, according to a Taliban spokesperson. The head of Taliban political office in Doha, Suhail Shaheen said that the visit was “needful and sagacious”.
While Indian authorities warned against reading too much into the visit, saying it should not be seen as indicative of any decision on official recognition for Taliban, the visit is still significant as it follows an outreach by the Taliban to India that also saw them earlier calling upon the government to consider reopening its embassy in Kabul.
Muttaqi again stressed on India’s diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and the provision of consular services to Afghans, particularly to students and patients, according to a Taliban spokesperson. The Taliban conveyed that the government in Kabul is committed to providing diplomats a secure environment.
The Taliban spokesperson said the two sides agreed to further “expand interactions” with India assuring that Taliban will assist Afghanistan in increasing its exports and recalling India’s decision to open up its ports and borders for the same.
