India will reopen its embassy in Kabul, marking a significant shift in diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced during a meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi. This move follows the closure of India’s embassy and consulates in Afghanistan in August 2021, after the Taliban took control of the country following the withdrawal of US troops.

Since then, India has maintained only a limited diplomatic presence in Kabul. In 2022, it re-established a technical mission to oversee humanitarian assistance and limited engagement. Now, Jaishankar has confirmed that the technical team will be upgraded to a full-fledged embassy, signaling a cautious but deliberate step towards re-engagement.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Muttaqi is the first high-level diplomatic interaction between the two countries since the Taliban's return to power. Welcoming the Afghan delegation, Jaishankar said the visit was a “step in advancing ties” between India and Afghanistan.

“We had opportunities to speak during the Pahalgam attack and the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan,” Jaishankar noted, referring to previous humanitarian coordination. He reiterated India’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, adding that closer cooperation would contribute to “regional stability and resilience.”

“As a contiguous neighbour and a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in your development and progress,” he added.

On his part, Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi expressed gratitude to India for its timely humanitarian assistance. He noted that India was the first country to respond after the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. “Afghanistan looks at India as a close friend. We seek relations based on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people ties,” he said.

Muttaqi, who is under United Nations sanctions including travel restrictions and asset freezes, was granted a temporary travel exemption by the UN Security Council to make this visit, according to the Associated Press.

The decision to reopen the embassy is seen as a strategic move by India to rebuild engagement in the region while continuing to monitor the evolving political and security situation in Afghanistan.