The Taliban government in Afghanistan, which New Delhi has not yet formally acknowledged, is the target of India’s first-ever ministerial outreach.
The discussion follows the Taliban’s condemnation of the terrorist attack that murdered 26 people in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Jaishankar Values Taliban’s Condemnation of Pahalgam Attack
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed appreciation to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi for condemning the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Following their phone conversation, Jaishankar emphasized India’s longstanding friendship with the Afghan people and reaffirmed support for Afghanistan’s development.
“Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,” Jaishankar wrote on X.
Diplomatic Rebuttal: India Counters Pakistan’s Narrative
Jaishankar also countered Pakistan’s recent attempts to link the Taliban to unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. He welcomed Muttaqi’s rejection of these claims, referring to media reports from Pakistan that falsely accused India of orchestrating a “false flag” operation in collaboration with the Taliban.
“Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports,” Jaishankar noted.
Discussions on Visas, Trade, and Chabahar Port
According to a statement from the Taliban, the conversation also covered visa facilitation for Afghan citizens seeking medical treatment in India. The two leaders discussed enhancing bilateral trade, the repatriation of Afghan prisoners from Indian jails, and further cooperation through Iran’s Chabahar Port — a key strategic hub managed by an Indian state-owned firm.
India has been using the port to send humanitarian aid and commercial goods to Afghanistan, and Taliban officials have expressed interest in using it for trade with India, especially after the closure of the Attari border crossing with Pakistan.
India Maintains Humanitarian Focus in Afghanistan
During the talks, Muttaqi described India as a key regional player and stressed the historic depth of India-Afghanistan relations. He conveyed hope that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen.
Prior to this, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also met Muttaqi in Dubai, signaling continued engagement between the two sides.