Muttaqi–Jaishankar Meeting: India to Reopen Embassy in Kabul

To strengthen diplomatic ties with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, India has announced that it will reopen its embassy in Kabul. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made the announcement during a meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi.

Amir Khan Muttaqi is currently on a visit to India. His seven-day tour began on Thursday, October 9, marking the first visit by a senior Taliban leader to New Delhi since the fall of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan in 2021.

On Friday, October 10, he held his first meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar. During the discussion, Jaishankar pledged to strengthen relations with the Taliban administration and assist in development initiatives, while also formally announcing the reopening of India's embassy in Kabul.

Jaishankar stated:
“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, regional integrity, and independence of Afghanistan. I am pleased to announce the upgrading of India’s diplomatic mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy, in order to further enhance our relationship.”

After the Taliban took control in 2021, India, like many other countries, cut diplomatic ties with Kabul, shut down its embassy, and limited communication. However, New Delhi is now cautiously re-establishing contact.

Earlier this year, in January, Muttaqi and Indian top diplomat Vikram Misri held a meeting in Dubai, agreeing to use Iran as a transit route to increase bilateral trade. Later, in May, Jaishankar and Muttaqi discussed ways to deepen cooperation.