Will Do What’s Necessary To Strengthen Taliban Ties, Say Indian Officials

Indian officials have signalled a willingness to deepen engagement with the Taliban, stating they will “do whatever is necessary” to strengthen relations with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers, according to a report by The Hindu newspaper.

The statement comes in the wake of a phone conversation on Thursday between India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. During the call, Jaishankar expressed India’s intent to increase its direct humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

According to The Hindu, Indian officials are reviewing a list of requests submitted by the Taliban, which was previously shared with India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Vikram Misri, during a meeting with Muttaqi in Dubai on 8 January 2025.

While India does not officially recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, it maintains a functional relationship with the group. Analysts see the phone call as a significant development, particularly given its timing ahead of Muttaqi’s planned visits to Iran and China.

Discussions between the two ministers also reportedly touched on economic cooperation, including the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran, an important access point for Indian trade with Afghanistan, especially given restrictions through Pakistan’s border.

Following the call, India allowed 160 Afghan freight trucks carrying dried fruit to enter the country via the Attari border crossing.

India has gradually re-engaged with the Taliban after initially withdrawing all diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan in August 2021, following the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government. Before the Taliban takeover, New Delhi had strong ties with Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, providing substantial development aid and security support.

Since 2021, India has delivered more than 50000 tonnes of wheat, 350 tonnes of medicines, 40000 litres of fertiliser, and 28 tonnes of relief materials to Afghanistan. Indian authorities have also allowed Taliban-appointed diplomats to manage Afghan embassies and consular offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.

Although the Indian Embassy in Kabul is currently operated by a technical team, consulates in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif remain closed. India is also reportedly considering support for Afghan migrants deported from Pakistan, further signalling a broader shift in its approach to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.