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India to upgrade Kabul mission to Embassy status, amid Afghan Taliban FM's visit and Pakistan airstrikes on Kabul

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) Signalling the resumption of normal diplomatic ties with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, India today announced the upgradation of its technical mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy, two years after the Afghan Taliban overran Kabul. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his address to visiting Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, conveyed India's decision on upgradation of the Indian technical mission to full embassy status today. He also announced other key measures, like provision of ambulances, visas, more food aid etc. The Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in turn, promised that Afghan territory would never be used against any other country, and called for a consultative mechanism to be established between the two nations in order to further upgrade ties. The closeness in ties between Inda and Afghanistan, comes as Pakistan conducted a series of airstrikes inside Afghanistan, including on Kabul on Thursday night, in apparent pursuit of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, but in what is being seen as a warning message to the Taliban authorities against getting close to New Delhi. In his address during the talks, EAM Jaishankar said that the visit of the Afghan Taliban FM "marks an important step" in the advancement of India's ties with Kabul and is an affirmation of the enduring friendship between the two nations. He said the two ministers have spoken to each other, once after the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the second time, after the Kunar and Nangarhar earthquake. "However, a meeting between us in person has a special value in allowing us to exchange perspectives, identify common interests and forge closer cooperation." He said as a contiguous neighbour and a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in Afghanistan's development and progress. "Today, I reaffirm that our longstanding partnership that has seen so many Indian projects in Afghanistan stands renewed," he said. He said the two sides can discuss the maintenance and repairs of finished projects as well as steps to complete others to which we India has already committed. The two sides can also discuss other development priorities of Afghanistan, he added. As part of India's support for the health security of Afghanistan, the EAM today said that six new projects would be announced. India is also gifting 20 ambulances as a gesture of good will, with five of them to be handed over by him as a symbolic step. India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunization and cancer medicines. He said that India has also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and is open to doing more. He pointed out that as a first responder, Indian relief materials were delivered to the earthquake sites within hours of the disaster in September. New Delhi also offered to contribute for the reconstruction of residences in the affected areas. India has also been a significant provider of food assistance to the Afghan people, he said, in reference to the 500,000 tonnes of wheat sent by India in 2021 and other food material, and added that New Delhi is delivering a further consignment in Kabul today. Pointing to the forcible repatriation of thousands of Afghan refugees, mostly by Pakistan and Iran, the EAM termed it a matter of deep concern. "Their dignity and livelihood is important. India agrees to help construct residences for them and continue providing material aid to rebuild their lives," the EAM said, in a statement that is seen as significant, in view of the souring of Kabul-Islamabad ties over the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees by the thousands over the past few months. On water management, Jaishankar said that India is ready to collaborate on the sustainable management of its water resources. He also appreciated the Taliban's inviting Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan, and said that this can be discussed further. This comes as Kabul has invited China and some Central Asian countries to get into mining activities in resource-rich Afghanistan. On trade, EAM said the two sides have a shared interest in boosting trade and commerce, and added that he is glad to note the commencement of additional flights between Kabul and New Delhi. He said that India will expand the avenues for Afghan students to pursue studies at Indian universities. "Sports is another longstanding connection. The emergence of Afghan cricket talent has been truly impressive. India is glad to deepen its support for Afghan cricket." He said that India has introduced a new visa module for Afghan people in April 2025, and as a result New Delhi is now issuing greater number of visas, including in medical, business and student categories. Raising the issue of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, he said while the two nations have a common commitment towards growth and prosperity, it is endangered by the shared threat of cross-border terrorism that both nations face. "We must coordinate efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We appreciate your sensitivity towards India's security concerns. Your solidarity with us in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack was noteworthy," the EAM said. "India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan. Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience. To enhance that, I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India's Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India," EAM announced. In his turn, the Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi assured India that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would never allow Afghan territory to be used against any other country. "We will never allow anyone to use Afghanistan's territory against anyone else," he said. FM Muttaqi thanked India for all its help, including as the first responder during last month's earthquake in Kunar province. He stressed that the Afghan Taliban government wants relations with India based on mutual respect and people to people ties. He said Afghanistan is ready to create a "consultative mechanism" for the strengthening of the bilateral relations with India. Recalling his meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in January in Dubai, he said it was a good start to their high-level engagement, which led to the two phone calls he had with EAM Jaishankar. "I am happy today that I am in Delhi, and this visit will strengthen the understanding between both our countries," he said. Muttaqi expressed hope for increase in the understanding and exchanges between New Delhi and Kabul, including at the official level. FM Muttaqi recalled that during the "during the American occupation of Afghanistan there were many ups and downs" but the Afghan Taliban never made any statement against India, and rather had good relations with India. Terming the Daesh as a threat, he said the Afghan Taliban is working to eradicate the terrorist entity, known as Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) from Afghanistan. He said the two sides need to combat the menace of terrorism together. The visit of the Afghan Taliban FM to India and his talks with EAM Jaishankar, come as former information minister of Pakistan's Balochistan province, Jan Achakzai has described Pakistan's airstrike on Kabul as "historic". He said the strikes were meant to warn the Afghan Taliban to remain neutral in what he called India's proxy conflicts. Achakzai added that Pakistan now faces what he termed as a "three-front war", against India in the east, the Afghan Taliban in the west, and domestic militant groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). He claimed the airstrikes served as a clear message to the Taliban leadership that Pakistan "will not tolerate" any alignment with India or groups acting against Islamabad's interests from Afghan soil.

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