A wave of criticism erupted on Thursday from Afghan political figures and civil society activists following a phone call between India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Many Afghans viewed the diplomatic engagement as a betrayal of the Afghan people, warning that it signals India’s shift away from supporting democratic values in favour of geopolitical interests.
Nargis Nehan, former Afghan Minister of Mines, wrote on X: “Your enemy’s enemy is an attractive friend but will never be a reliable partner,” cautioning India against trusting the Taliban.
Responding to Jaishankar’s comments about India’s “traditional friendship with the Afghan people,” Nehan said that the Afghan people were no longer visible in India’s policy towards Afghanistan.
Prominent journalist Lina Rozbih also criticised the engagement, writing: “India is a victim of terrorism and yet it is engaging with a government like the Taliban that is consisted of terrorists!”
The backlash follows India’s warm reception of the Taliban’s condemnation of a recent militant attack in Kashmir. The attack was reportedly carried out by groups linked to Pakistan. While the Taliban had previously supported attacks on Indian embassies and personnel in Afghanistan, it has shifted its stance and now seeks improved relations with New Delhi following the collapse of the former Afghan government in 2021.
During the call, Jaishankar expressed “deep appreciation” for the Taliban’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and accused Pakistan of spreading misinformation aimed at driving a wedge between India and the Taliban. He referenced claims by Pakistan’s military that India had fired rockets into Afghan territory amid a recent border dispute.
Jaishankar stated on X that the two foreign ministers discussed “ways and means of taking cooperation forward.”
Bahar Mehr, a US-based Afghan political activist, described the phone call as “an embarrassing moment for India’s foreign policy,” alleging that the Taliban had manipulated India’s geopolitical calculations. “This is not realism; it is appeasement, and it betrays the people of Afghanistan,” Mehr wrote.
Fawzia Koofi, a former MP and women’s rights advocate, also weighed in, saying India had chosen to prioritise its geopolitical interests over shared democratic values.
The diplomatic exchange has reignited debate about international engagement with the Taliban, especially from countries like India that have historically supported democratic governance and civil society in Afghanistan.
