NEW DELHI: The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has described India as a “major” regional and economic power following talks between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Misri and Muttaqi held talks in Dubai on Wednesday in the first publicly acknowledged high-level meeting since the Taliban took power in August 2021.
In a statement, the Afghan foreign ministry said Muttaqi “thanked India for its humanitarian assistance adding that in line with its balanced and economically focused foreign policy, we want to strengthen political and economic relations with India.”
“The External Affairs Minister also assured the Indian side that there is no threat from Afghanistan and expressed hope that India will facilitate visas (by India) for traders, patients and students in order to improve diplomatic relations,” said.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of Afghanistan’s trade and transport ministries, the statement added.
“Comprehensive discussions were held on political, economic and people-to-people relations between the two countries,” he said.
In the meeting, the Indian side said New Delhi would consider participating in development projects in Afghanistan and providing material support to the country in the health sector, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In response to the request of the Afghan side, India will provide more material support in the first instance to the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees, the MEA said on Wednesday.
It was also agreed to promote the use of Chabahar port to support trade and commercial activities, including for the purposes of humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, he said.
The Afghan statement said the Indian side expressed interest in promoting trade through Chabahar port.
“Finally, both sides agreed to facilitate visas and trade,” he said.
The Misri-Muttaqi talks came two days after India “unequivocally” condemned Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan that killed scores of civilians.
India has not yet recognized the creation of the Taliban and has been fighting for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul. New Delhi has also insisted that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist activities against any country.
New Delhi is known to remain concerned over the presence in Afghanistan of terrorist elements belonging to Pakistan-based terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
India has been extending humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in recent years.
So far, India has sent several shipments, including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, 300 tons of medicines, 27 tons of earthquake relief aid, 40,000 liters of pesticides, 100 million anti-polio doses, 1.5 million doses of the Covid vaccine, 11,000 units of hygiene kits for the anti-drug addiction program and 1.2 tons of stationery.