India to Upgrade Kabul Embassy

New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic development, India announced plans to upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy, signalling a step toward formal engagement with the ruling Taliban regime. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar conveyed the decision to Afghan foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi during bilateral talks held in New Delhi on Friday.

Addressing the media later at the Afghan Embassy, Muttaqi said his country had received India’s nod to post diplomats to the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi. Asked whether an Ambassador would be appointed, he said the process would begin shortly and be scaled up gradually. Hailing India as a “close friend,” Muttaqi assured that Afghanistan would not allow its soil to be used against India.

At a time when ties between the Taliban and Pakistan remain strained, Jaishankar took a veiled swipe at Islamabad, asserting that both India and Afghanistan faced the “shared threat of cross-border terrorism.” He said, “We must coordinate efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” He also appreciated Afghanistan’s “sensitivity towards India’s security concerns” and its “solidarity with India after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.”

A Joint Statement released after the meeting said both nations “unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries.” It added that India would deepen its engagement in development cooperation, particularly in healthcare, infrastructure, and capacity-building. The Afghan side invited Indian companies to invest in the mining sector to boost bilateral trade, which Jaishankar welcomed.

Muttaqi, responding to reports of overnight Pakistani air strikes on Afghan border areas, warned Islamabad against “playing games with Afghanistan,” calling the attacks a “big mistake.” He said no damage had been reported in Kabul and urged Pakistan not to “spoil the situation.”

India had withdrawn its diplomats from Kabul in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover but re-established a Technical Mission at its Embassy in June 2022 as relations improved.

Announcing India’s renewed commitment to Afghanistan’s reconstruction, Mr. Jaishankar said New Delhi was ready to launch six new development projects and would donate 20 ambulances. He detailed a series of healthcare initiatives, including a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and a new heating system for the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul. India will also construct a 30-bed hospital in Kabul’s Bagrami district, an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre, and five Maternity Health Clinics in Paktika, Khost, and Paktia provinces.

The Joint Statement noted that about 75 prosthetic limbs had already been fitted to Afghan nationals with Indian support, earning appreciation from both the Afghan government and international community.

Jaishankar also announced India’s readiness to cooperate on water management and hydroelectric projects, citing the successful partnership over the Salma (India-Afghanistan Friendship) Dam in Herat. Both sides agreed to collaborate on sustainable water resource management to strengthen Afghanistan’s energy and agricultural sectors.

The EAM highlighted India’s humanitarian assistance, including the supply of food grains, educational materials, disaster relief goods, and pesticides. He said the India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor would further boost bilateral trade. Muttaqi later confirmed that a joint trade committee would be formed to address commercial issues.

Referring to Afghanistan’s past, Muttaqi said the Taliban had “never made statements against India” even during the U.S. occupation, describing India as a trusted friend. Rejecting the American proposal to reoccupy the Bagram airbase, he asserted that “no foreign military presence will be allowed on Afghan soil.” On criticism over women’s rights, he said every country has its own traditions and pointed to the restoration of peace.

Muttaqi, on a week-long visit to India, is also scheduled to visit the Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband, which he described as an institution with deep Afghan ties.

During talks, Jaishankar referred to both nations as “contiguous neighbours,” an indirect reference to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which borders Afghanistan. Welcoming his Afghan counterpart, he said, “Your visit marks an important step in advancing our ties and affirming the enduring friendship between India and Afghanistan.”

Reaffirming India’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the EAM said, “Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development and regional stability. I am pleased to announce the upgrading of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India.”

Expanding Educational and Cultural Links

Jaishankar also highlighted India’s plans to expand educational, medical, and sports exchanges. “We will continue to offer scholarships under the e-ICCR scheme and open more opportunities for Afghan students in Indian universities,” he said. Noting the growing prominence of Afghan cricket, he added that India would deepen its cooperation in sports.

India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines, cancer medicines, and vaccines to Afghan hospitals, along with drug rehabilitation materials through the UNODC.

On Pakistan’s forced repatriation of Afghan refugees, Jaishankar expressed concern, saying India would help construct residences and provide material aid for rehabilitation.

The meeting concluded with both sides reiterating their commitment to stability, humanitarian support, and regional peace — marking the most significant step in India-Afghanistan relations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.