New Delhi: In what is so far the highest-level official meeting between India and the Taliban regime in Kabul, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a meeting with the Afghan Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai.
Following the meeting, the two sides “agreed to facilitate visas and trade”, according to Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesperson Hafiz Zia Ahmad.
The Taliban MoFA deputy spokesperson quoted FS Misri as saying that India has provided humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan for nearly three and a half years “and wants to help Afghanistan implement infrastructure projects”.
Misri “also praised the overall security and stability in the country and the Islamic Emirate’s fight against drugs and corruption, adding that India is interested in strengthening relations with Afghanistan in the political and economic sectors and grow trade through Chabahar”.
“There was a comprehensive dialogue between the two sides”.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad quoted the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Minister Muttaqi as thanking India for its humanitarian assistance. Muttaqi told FS Misri that Afghanistan wants to be a key economic country in the region and strengthen economic ties.
Muttaqi “also assured the Indian side that there was no danger to anyone from Afghanistan” and “expressed his hope for enhancing diplomatic relations and facilitating visas for businessmen, patients, and students”.
According to the Indian readout, the two sides discussed various issues relating to bilateral relations as well as regional developments.
Foreign Secretary Misri underlined India’s historic friendship with the Afghan people and the strong people to people contacts between the two countries.
In this context, he conveyed India’s readiness to respond to the urgent developmental needs of the Afghan people, the statement said.
The two sides evaluated the ongoing Indian humanitarian assistance programmes.
The Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister appreciated and thanked the Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan.
In view of the current need for development activities, it was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programme, the statement said.
In response to the request from the Afghan side, India will provide further material support to the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees.
The two sides also discussed strengthening of sports (cricket) cooperation, which is highly valued by the young generation of Afghanistan. It was also agreed to promote the use of Chabahar port for supporting trade and commercial activities, including for the purpose of humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.
The Afghan side underlined its sensitivities to India’s security concerns. The two sides agreed to remain in touch and continue regular contacts at various levels.
It may be recalled that in response to the needs of the Afghan people, India decided to extend humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. India has so far dispatched several shipments consisting of 50,000 MTs of wheat, 300 tons of medicines, 27 tons of earthquake relief aid, 40,000 litres of pesticides, 100 million polio doses, 1.5 million doses of COVID Vaccine, 11,000 units of hygiene kits for the drug de-addiction programme, 500 units of winter clothing and 1.2 tons of stationery kits, etc, the statement added.
The meeting comes two days after India slammed Pakistan for its cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province in which 46 civilians were killed.
The meeting also comes amid the just-concluded visit of the US NSA Jake Sullivan to Delhi, where he met PM Modi and NSA Ajit Doval. The Afghan Taliban today slammed the US for claiming to have provided millions of dollars in aid to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which it termed as incorrect.
The meeting between the two sides also comes amid sharply deteriorating ties between Islamabad and the Kabul regime.
The MEA spokesperson in a post on X said:
“Foreign Secy @VikramMisri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai today.
“Both sides discussed India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bilateral issues and security situation in the region.
“India reiterated its commitment to continue to provide humanitarian & development assistance to the Afghan people. Agreed to promote trade and commerce, including through Chabahar port.
“India will also extend its support to the health sector & rehabilitation of refugees in the country.“
The Dubai meeting also comes in the wake of India’s first meeting with the Taliban Acting Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, in Kabul in November 2024.
A delegation led by JP Singh, Joint Secretary in the MEA in charge of the Pakistan, Iran and Afghan desk, visited Kabul during November 4-5, “during which he held several meetings with ministers and met former president Hamid Karzai and the heads of UN agencies”.
Singh had met the Taliban Acting Defence Minister, during which “humanitarian assistance from India was the centrepiece of the meetings”.
