New delhi: India on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence as top diplomats from both nations met in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made the remarks while hosting Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi for talks during the latter's week-long visit to India.
According to Anadolu Agency, Jaishankar emphasized India's dedication to Afghanistan's independence and announced the upgrading of India's technical mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India. This move indicates that New Delhi may soon appoint a full-time ambassador to the Afghan capital. The External Affairs Minister also expressed gratitude to Muttaqi for inviting Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan.
During a news conference following the bilateral talks, Muttaqi stated that diplomats from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would arrive in Delhi. The Taliban-led interim administration refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the Afghan embassy in New Delhi was closed after the Taliban regained power in Kabul.
A joint statement following the meeting highlighted India's intention to further deepen its engagement in development cooperation projects, focusing on healthcare, public infrastructure, and capacity-building sectors. India also plans to donate 20 ambulances to the Afghan people and is considering opportunities for Afghan students to study at Indian universities and participate in scholarship programs.
Muttaqi's visit marks the first by a senior Afghan official to India since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. India had previously closed its embassy in Kabul following the collapse of the Western-backed government but reopened it in 2022 with a technical team. This mission has recently engaged directly with the Taliban-led interim administration.
Historically, India has financed and implemented numerous infrastructure and development projects across Afghanistan. Jaishankar mentioned that both parties could now discuss the maintenance and repairs of completed projects and the steps necessary to finish others that India has already committed to.