India has upgraded its ‘technical mission’ in Kabul to full embassy status. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar made the decision public on Friday in a meeting with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Delhi. On ‘The Gist’, India’s Former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Amar Sinha speaks to StratNews Global‘s Amitabh P. Revi and Ramananda Sengupta on the step-by-step pragmatic approach that New Delhi has been adopting. Muttaqi’s visit marks the first by a senior Taliban leader to India since they retook Afghanistan for the second time in August 2021.
From StratNews Global’s Archives
StratNews Global conducted a rare one-on-one interview with Minister Muttaqi in Kabul in August 2022. Watch our other interviews on that trip, including one with Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, a woman journalist and the former Tolo TV head here.
India-Afghanistan Joint Statement
In a joint statement, the EAM “expressed his deep appreciation to Afghanistan for its strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India on 22 April 2025 as well as for the sincere condolences and solidarity expressed with the people and Government of India. Both sides unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries.
Terrorism Concerns
Both sides emphasized respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. External Affairs Minister appreciated Afghan side’s understanding of India’s security concerns. The Afghan Foreign Minister reiterated the commitment that the Afghan government will not allow any group or individual to use the territory of Afghanistan against India.
Considering Afghanistan’s pressing requirement for economic recovery and development, both sides agreed that India would further deepen its engagement in development cooperation projects, particularly in the sectors of healthcare, public infrastructure and capacity-building –
Afghan e-Scholarships
In the field of capacity-building, India continues to offer scholarships to Afghan students under the e-ICCR scholarship scheme. Other avenues for Afghan students to pursue studies at Indian universities under the ICCR and other scholarship programmes are under active consideration.
India expressed its willingness to assist the Afghan government in reconstructing residential buildings in the earthquake affected areas.
The two sides reviewed the progress of Indian humanitarian assistance programmes to Afghanistan.The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation to the Government of India for its comprehensive and generous humanitarian support, including in providing crucial material aid to address the urgent needs of forcibly repatriated refugees in Afghanistan.
Both sides discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in sports, especially cricket, to advance cultural interactions.
Air Freight Corridor
Air freight Corridor, which will further enhance direct trade and commerce between the two countries. The new corridor is expected to streamline connectivity and boost bilateral trade.
The Afghan side invited Indian companies to invest in the mining sector which would help strengthen the bilateral trade and commercial relations.
Appreciating India’s assistance in construction and maintenance of India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) in Herat, both sides also underscored the importance of sustainable water management and agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects with a view to addressing Afghanistan’s energy needs and support its agricultural development.
Both sides agreed to maintain close communication and continue regular engagement” .
The 'Eye' of the story not the 'I' of the story. That's Amitabh Pashupati Revi's credo from the beginning of his professional journey in 1995. From conflicts in the war zones of Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq to nuances of international politics in the Maldives,Thailand, and South Sudan, Amitabh has reported from all the world's continents, except for Antarctica(so far). Though, he has documented the world's third pole, the Siachen Glacier!
Amitabh reports and produces documentaries on the two-front China-Pakistan threat to India. His ground reports from Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh have received viewership in the hundreds of thousands. Amitabh has interviewed world leaders, top global analysts, and experts in India, Russia, the United States, and Australia as well. Along the way, he’s picked up the Russian language, the Ramnath Goenka Award for his reporting on the 'Islamic State' terrorist group in Iraq, the Khaled Alkhateb Award for his reporting from Palmyra, Syria, and the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Distinguished Journalist Fellowship. Last but not least, as a founder member of StratNews Global, Amitabh helps lead the reporting, editorial, production, and administration teams at StratNews Global, BharatShakti, and InterStellar on their journey ahead.
