India has officially reopened its embassy in Kabul and restored full diplomatic relations with Taliban-led Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on Friday after meeting Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
“I am pleased to announce the upgrading of India’s technical mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India,” Jaishankar said, according to India Today. “India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan,” he added.
The move marks a major shift in India’s cautious re-engagement with Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021. At that time, New Delhi had closed its embassy and consulates, evacuating its diplomatic staff following the collapse of the previous government.
Although India has yet to formally recognise the Taliban regime, reopening the embassy signals a pragmatic step toward normalization of ties amid evolving regional realities.
Muttaqi’s visit marks the first by a senior Taliban leader to India since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. The discussions reportedly covered humanitarian cooperation, regional security, and economic connectivity.
The development comes as tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deepened, particularly following Islamabad’s mass deportation of Afghan refugees. Observers say India’s renewed diplomatic presence in Kabul represents a strategic recalibration of its Afghanistan policy as regional power equations continue to shift.
(With inputs from IBNS)
