The Afghan Taliban’s foreign ministry said they viewed India as an “important regional and economic partner” after meeting their top foreign ministry official, the highest-level talks with Delhi since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
India’s Foreign Minister Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and boosting trade through Iran’s Chabahar port, which India has been developing to allow goods to bypass Karachi and Gwadar ports on its rival Pakistan.
“In line with Afghanistan’s balanced and economically focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as an important regional and economic partner,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry statement said late Wednesday time.
India’s foreign ministry said after the Dubai meeting that India was considering participating in development projects in Afghanistan and was looking to boost trade ties.
No foreign government, including India, officially recognizes the Taliban administration.
However, India is one of several countries with a small mission in Kabul to facilitate trade, aid and medical support and has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
Regional players, including China and Russia, have signaled their willingness to boost trade and investment in Afghanistan.
The Delhi meeting could upset Pakistan, which borders both countries and has fought three wars in the past against India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan also have a tense relationship, with Pakistan saying that several terrorist attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil, an allegation the Afghan Taliban denies.
Earlier this week, India’s foreign ministry told reporters it condemned Pakistan’s anti-terror airstrikes on Afghan soil late last year against the designated Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group. by the UN.
