New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic outreach, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday, marking the first ministerial-level engagement between India and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The call comes shortly after the Taliban administration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians.
Following the call, Jaishankar posted on social media platform X: “Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.” He reiterated India’s longstanding friendship with the Afghan people and affirmed continued support for their development needs. Both leaders also discussed potential avenues for future cooperation.
Taliban seeks visa relief
Jaishankar said that he welcomed Muttaqi’s strong rejection of Pakistani media reports attempting to link the Taliban with recent terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. He described such reports as baseless attempts to sow distrust between India and Afghanistan.
According to Taliban’s Director of Communication Hafiz Zia Ahmad, Muttaqi raised several key issues during the call. He urged India to ease visa processes for Afghan nationals, especially those seeking medical treatment. The discussion also included matters related to bilateral trade, the repatriation of Afghan prisoners in Indian jails, and the development of Iran’s Chabahar Port, a vital trade route for landlocked Afghanistan.
India’s cautious Taliban outreach
With India and Pakistan currently having severed trade ties following the Pahalgam attack, Afghanistan faces additional logistical challenges as it traditionally relied on land routes via Pakistan to access Indian markets. In this context, Chabahar Port has gained increased importance.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, India has cautiously engaged with the regime through humanitarian aid and diplomatic channels. Notable interactions include Indian diplomat Anand Prakash’s visit to Kabul in April this year and prior visits by JP Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who met Taliban leaders in Afghanistan and Dubai respectively.
