Senior Indian Diplomat Holds Talks With Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister in Kabul

An Indian delegation led by New Delhi’s point-person on Afghanistan JP Singh held talks with Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul and emphasised that the welfare of the people of Afghanistan is India’s top priority in bilateral relations.

“We are committed to the Afghan people and all humanitarian assistance will be given,” Singh, a senior diplomat helming the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is learnt to have said at the meeting.

According to sources, India is also exploring the possibility of working with the Taliban regime health and education sectors. On the other hand, the Afghan Foreign Ministry is said to want visas for Afghan people to study and seek medical care in India. While the Indian government has not taken any view on the request so far, humanitarian aid will continue, say sources.

India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country.

In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a “technical team” in its embassy in the Afghan capital.

India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their security.

India has been providing essential assistance, including food, to the people of Afghanistan following a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover. India continues to supply humanitarian assistance, including medical and food aid for the Afghan people.

India supplied a total of 47,500 metric tonnes of wheat assistance to United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) centres in Afghanistan. New Delhi also supplied almost 200 tonnes of medical assistance, including essential medicines, Covid-19 vaccines and equipment like pediatric stethoscope and infusion pump.