Taliban calls India a ‘important regional companion’ after officers meet

Senior overseas ministry officers of the 2 international locations maintain highest-level talks for the reason that Afghan group’s takeover of Kabul in 2021.

The Taliban has referred to as India a “important regional and financial companion” after a gathering was held between senior overseas ministry officers of the 2 international locations, the best such talks for the reason that Afghan group’s takeover of Kabul in 2021.

India’s Overseas Secretary Vikram Misri met performing Taliban Overseas Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday, experiences stated.

In an announcement later, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated they mentioned increasing their relations and boosting commerce by means of Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been creating for items to bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan.

“Consistent with Afghanistan’s balanced and economy-focused overseas coverage, the Islamic Emirate goals to strengthen political and financial ties with India as a major regional and financial companion,” the assertion stated.

India’s overseas ministry stated in an announcement after the assembly that New Delhi was contemplating partaking in improvement tasks in Afghanistan and trying to increase commerce ties.

India, which hosts hundreds of Afghan refugees, additionally stated it is going to present “materials help” for his or her rehabilitation again residence. Some a million refugees have been repatriated by Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan since late 2023.

“In response to the request from the Afghan aspect, India will present additional materials help within the first occasion to the well being sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees,” India’s overseas ministry stated in its assertion.

Afghan officers say they’ve already begun distributing land among the many repatriated Afghan refugees.

India additionally stated it supplied extra help to the Afghan well being sector as the 2 international locations mentioned strengthening of sports activities ties, notably in cricket.

No overseas authorities, together with India, formally recognises the Taliban administration. But in June 2022, lower than a 12 months after the Taliban returned to energy, India reopened its embassy in Kabul, sending a group of “technical consultants” to run the mission.

In the meantime, Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi was closed in November 2023 after diplomats appointed by the Afghan authorities ousted by the Taliban did not safe visa extensions from their Indian hosts.

Nonetheless, in November final 12 months, the Taliban introduced the appointment of Ikramuddin Kamil as its performing consul in Mumbai.

India can also be one in all a number of international locations to facilitate commerce, assist and medical help and has despatched humanitarian assist to Afghanistan beneath the Taliban.

New Delhi has to date dispatched a number of shipments consisting of wheat, medicines, COVID vaccines, and winter clothes to Afghanistan.

Wednesday’s assembly got here amid rising tensions between Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan, which final week launched an operation to destroy what it referred to as armed teams in Afghanistan’s jap Paktika province. Islamabad claims the Pakistan Taliban group makes use of Afghan soil to launch assaults in Pakistan, a cost Kabul denies.

The strikes killed dozens of individuals, primarily ladies and kids. Earlier this week, India’s overseas workplace advised journalists they condemned the air strikes carried out on Afghan soil.

India and Pakistan have lengthy been rivals and have fought three wars over Kashmir since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

On Wednesday, the Afghan aspect underlined its sensitivities to India’s safety considerations and stated they “agreed to stay in contact and proceed common contact at varied ranges,” the Indian assertion stated.