Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Friday, marking the first high-level diplomatic engagement between India and the Taliban-led government since it took power in 2021. The meeting is a significant step in rebuilding ties between the two countries amid complex regional dynamics.

During their discussions, Muttaqi reassured India that Afghanistan would not allow its territory to be used against any other country. “In the recent earthquake in Afghanistan, India was the first responder. Afghanistan looks at India as a close friend. We want relations based on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people ties,” Muttaqi said. He also expressed readiness to create a consultative mechanism to strengthen bilateral relations and emphasized that his visit would help deepen understanding between the two nations.

The Taliban leader’s visit to New Delhi came after he secured a temporary travel exemption from the UN Security Council Committee, as he remains under UN sanctions that include travel bans and asset freezes.

A key outcome of the meeting was Jaishankar’s announcement that India will reopen its embassy in Kabul, which had been closed in 2021 following the Taliban takeover. India had maintained a limited diplomatic presence since 2022 through a “technical mission” aimed at facilitating trade, medical aid, and humanitarian assistance. Upgrading this mission to a full embassy signals a deepening of diplomatic relations with the Taliban government, although no specific timeline was provided for the change.

Jaishankar emphasized India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. He said that closer cooperation between the two countries would contribute not only to Afghanistan’s development but also to regional stability and resilience.

Muttaqi’s visit comes shortly after his participation in an international meeting on Afghanistan in Russia that included representatives from several regional countries such as China, Pakistan, and Iran. His trip to India highlights the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to gain international recognition and reflects India’s strategic interest in expanding its influence in Afghanistan amid regional rivalries.

The meeting also builds on earlier interactions, including phone calls between Jaishankar and Muttaqi, as well as visits by India’s foreign secretary and special envoy to Afghanistan. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, welcomed the visit on social media, expressing hope for productive discussions on bilateral and regional issues.