• Source:JND
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday that India has restored the status of its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect. The move follows the recent visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India and underscores India’s commitment to deepening bilateral engagement across all spheres of mutual interest. 

According to the MEA, the upgraded embassy will bolster India’s role in Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian aid, and capacity-building initiatives, in alignment with Afghan societal priorities. This marks India’s first high-level diplomatic engagement with the Taliban administration since it seized power in 2021 following the US withdrawal.

Jaishankar Highlights Cooperation and Sovereignty

Earlier, Jaishankar, speaking alongside Muttaqi in New Delhi, emphasised that closer cooperation contributes to Afghanistan’s national development and regional stability. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, and welcomed opportunities for Indian companies to explore mining and investment projects in the country. 

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The reopening restores India’s full diplomatic presence in Kabul, after the embassy was closed in 2021. Since then, India has maintained a limited technical mission to oversee trade, medical, and humanitarian efforts. The embassy aims to expand cooperation in trade, healthcare, education, and cultural exchange, strengthening bilateral ties after four years of limited engagement. 

Muttaqi emphasised Afghanistan’s desire for good relations with India and highlighted ongoing counterterrorism efforts, assuring that Afghan territory would not be used to target other nations. However, the event drew criticism as female journalists were excluded from the briefing, reportedly at the Taliban’s request. The MEA clarified it had no role in organising the media arrangement. Muttaqi later described the exclusion as a “technical issue.”

Humanitarian Initiatives

Jaishankar also announced six new development and humanitarian projects in Afghanistan, with details expected to be finalised soon. The embassy’s reopening signals India’s renewed commitment to Afghanistan’s development and reinforces its strategic focus on maintaining strong diplomatic ties. 

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