Indian delegation meets Taliban foreign minister

The Taliban foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in-depth discussions took place on Afghanistan-India relations, and economic and transit matters.

In a series of posts on X, Balkhi said: “Calling relation (between) the two countries historic, Mr. Singh said that India has provided humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in various areas in the last two and a half years. Moreover, commending IEA’s (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) efforts in ensuring overall security & stability, countering narcotics, fighting ISKP & corruption in the country, Mr. Singh said that India is interested in expand political & economic cooperation with Afghanistan, & enhancing trade via Chabahar port.”

“Extending gratitude to India for its humanitarian assistance, FM Muttaqi said that in line with our balanced foreign policy, IEA seeks to strengthen political & economic relations with India as an important actor in the region. In the end, FM Muttaqi urged India’s Joint Secretary to facilitate visa issuance process for Afghan  businessmen, patients & students,” the Taliban foreign ministry spokesperson said.

There was no official statement from the External Affairs Ministry on the meetings between the Indian delegation and the Taliban leadership and others.

After Karzai’s meeting with the Indian delegation, which included Deputy Secretary Deepti Jharwal (in charge of Afghanistan and Iran), his X account posted: “Former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai met with the Joint Secretary of India Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. JP Singh (Head of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan Department). In addition to the exchange of views on issues related to #Afghanistan and the region, the former president mentioned the historical and good relations between the two countries, and the people of #Afghanistan about India’s assistance and He expressed his gratitude for the cooperation and especially in the field of education, he asked for the continuation of the cooperation of the said country.”

There have been at least two trips by Indian officials in the past two-and-half years since Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The first visit took place in June 2022 and another visit took place in October 2022.

In June 2022, after the first official delegation visited Kabul, India sent a “technical team” to Kabul which has been stationed at the embassy since then. The publicly-stated objective has been to coordinate delivery of humanitarian aid and support to the people of Afghanistan.

It has sent aid in the form of medicines, stationery items for school children, wheat among other things.

In January this year, Taliban’s Foreign minister Mottaqi held a meeting of diplomats from 11 neighbouring and regional countries, including India, and had proposed establishing a “region-centric narrative aimed at developing regional cooperation for a positive and constructive engagement between Afghanistan and regional countries.” This was one of the rare and first publicised meetings between the Taliban Foreign minister and diplomats from India who have been based in Kabul since June 2022.

India has tried to tread carefully on the issue of engaging the Taliban, while not granting diplomatic recognition to the grouping. This has meant that it has had a working relationship with the Taliban regime, while not allowing the Taliban flag flying at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi and not letting them change the name to Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at the embassy.