The Taliban embassy in Tehran has announced that Fazl Mohammad Haqqani, the group’s representative in Iran, met with Rudra Gaurav, India’s ambassador to Tehran, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and enhancing trade through Chabahar port.
On Monday, the Taliban embassy stated on the social media platform X that the meeting focused on increasing cooperation in exports and imports via Chabahar, a strategic port in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province that serves as a vital trade corridor between India and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.
India has been actively working to utilise Chabahar port to reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistan and strengthen its economic ties with the Taliban. According to Al Jazeera, this trade route could enhance India’s influence in the region, providing an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz and maritime corridors where Pakistan holds significant control.
Amid escalating tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, the group appears to be forging closer relations with Pakistan’s long-time rival, India. Earlier in January, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Vikram Misri, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, in Dubai to discuss regional developments and economic cooperation.
