Pakistan’s Special Envoy Visits Kabul As Tensions with Taliban Escalate

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday, 20 March, Jaishankar stated that the Taliban currently governs Afghanistan and India is choosing to act rather than observe. “To help the Afghan people, we obviously engage with whoever is in control,” he said.

Responding to a question about dealing with the Taliban, Jaishankar explained that India has taken a practical approach based on humanitarian considerations. He highlighted two possible strategies: to observe the situation passively or to actively engage with those in power to offer support. He made it clear that India has chosen the latter.

“We would like to keep the relationship with the Afghan people going, and that’s really what is driving us,” Jaishankar said.

He noted that since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has experienced a severe food crisis. In response, India has sent 500,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. He also referred to previous support provided by India, including COVID-19 vaccine supplies and development aid to the former Afghan government.

Jaishankar reaffirmed that India has consistently maintained contact with Afghanistan’s leadership across different regimes, based on humanitarian needs.

His comments follow a series of recent developments, including a meeting earlier this year between India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Vikram Misri, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in the United Arab Emirates. During that meeting, Misri pledged support for Afghanistan’s health sector and returning refugees.

An Indian delegation also visited Kabul recently, where they met with senior Taliban officials, including the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Reports have also emerged suggesting that India is considering allowing a Taliban representative to take charge of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, further indicating a shift towards pragmatic engagement.

The agency noted that while Nowruz is traditionally marked by preparing Samanak, a festive dish symbolising prosperity, many Afghan families can no longer afford basic food supplies.

In a post shared on X on Friday, the WFP said it is working to provide food assistance to those in need and called on donors and supporters to continue their contributions.

Earlier this month, on 2 March, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that this year’s Ramadan had begun with millions of Afghans uncertain about where their next meal would come from. OCHA reported that nearly 15 million people in Afghanistan are currently experiencing food insecurity.

According to the United Nations, at least 23 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian assistance. UN agencies in the country have raised concerns about declining international support and urged donors not to scale back their commitments during what remains a critical time for millions.

According to the sources, Taliban forces also closed off roads leading to the Sakhi Shrine, a central site for Nowruz celebrations in Kabul.

Several sources reported that Taliban fighters raided the shrine the previous night and expelled its security guards.

The Taliban’s actions come despite prior coordination between event organisers and local Taliban officials, the sources said.

Each year, residents of Kabul mark Nowruz—the first day of the Solar Hijri calendar—by hoisting a ceremonial flag at the Sakhi Shrine. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, locals have continued the tradition despite a ban on Nowruz festivities.

The Taliban regard Nowruz as “forbidden” and have repeatedly obstructed its observance across multiple provinces. The group has also removed Nowruz as a public holiday from Afghanistan’s official calendar.

Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president and leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, said in his Nowruz message that “the patience of the people has run out.” He added that national and international efforts to confront the Taliban are underway and that “strategic plans” are being prepared.

“We will overcome these hardships, end the suffering that has overshadowed our nation, and establish a national government based on freedom and inclusivity,” Dostum stated.

Former vice president Amrullah Saleh also vowed that toppling the Taliban would remain his priority in the new year. He said that Afghanistan under Taliban rule would never achieve dignity, unity, or economic stability. “To build a post-Taliban Afghanistan, we must remain hopeful and prepare ourselves more thoroughly,” he added.

The Justice and Freedom Party, led by Sarwar Danish, said Afghanistan is going through the “darkest days of its history.” The party expressed hope that the new year would bring freedom and justice.

The Jamiat-e-Islami Party, led by former foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani, condemned the Taliban’s ban on Nowruz. In a statement, the party said the Taliban had turned a day of celebration into one of sorrow and repression. It called for the establishment of a democratic and just government.

Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front, said Nowruz represents a commitment to resistance. “This day is not just a celebration but a commitment—our commitment to stand firm and never retreat from the path to freedom,” he wrote on social media. He added that the fight against the Taliban keeps “the hope of spring and freedom alive.”

Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, criticised the Taliban’s human rights record. He said Afghans have the right to live in peace like other nations but are instead faced with insecurity and fear.

Nowruz, which marks the Solar Hijri New Year, has been celebrated for centuries across Afghanistan and the wider region. This year, it falls on Friday, 21 March, marking the start of the year 1404 in the Solar Hijri calendar.

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have banned public celebrations of Nowruz and removed it as an official holiday. Despite this, many Afghans still observe the occasion in cities across the country.

In a statement, the Torkham border administration advised travellers and patients to avoid the crossing until normal operations resume. Officials did not clarify the nature of the repairs, but security sources claim that Taliban border forces damaged Pakistan’s immigration systems during recent tensions.

According to the sources, the technical issues are expected to be resolved by the end of the day. The crossing is scheduled to reopen for passengers on Saturday.

The Torkham border was partially reopened on Wednesday after being closed for 27 days. At that time, only cargo trucks and patients were allowed to cross.

The border was originally shut on 21 February following a clash between Pakistani border forces and the Taliban. The dispute arose over the construction of a Taliban checkpoint and the installation of a Pakistani signboard at the zero-point. Two jirga meetings were held between Afghan and Pakistani representatives in efforts to reopen the crossing.