India holds first-ever meeting with Taliban Defence Minister

New Delhi, Nov 7: A senior Indian diplomat met with the Taliban’s Acting Defence Minister, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, in Kabul, marking a new phase in India-Afghanistan relations.

This high-level engagement, which took place on Wednesday, included MEA Joint Secretary J.P. Singh, who oversees relations with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. This is India’s first direct meeting with the son of former Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who led Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

The visit, which took place from November 4–5, was part of India’s efforts to address humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and explore avenues for deeper economic and regional cooperation. In a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided a detailed account of the visit:

“We had a delegation led by J.P. Singh, Joint Secretary in charge of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, who visited Kabul on 4 and 5 November. During the visit, he had several meetings with Afghan ministers, including the Acting Defence Minister. He called on former President Hamid Karzai, met the head of UN agencies, and held discussions with several other ministers. They discussed India’s humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan and explored how Chabahar Port could be used by Afghan businesses for trade and other transactions.”

Jaiswal highlighted the longstanding relationship India shares with the Afghan people, saying, “Providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is a cornerstone of our assistance efforts. In the past months, we have sent multiple shipments of humanitarian aid, including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, 40,000 Liters of melatonin (a pesticide), 30 tons of medicines, and 28 tons of relief materials for earthquake victims. Our longstanding ties with the Afghan people will continue to guide our approach toward the country.”

During his visit, J.P. Singh also met the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence shared on social media that the two sides “emphasised their common desire to expand bilateral relations, especially in humanitarian cooperation, and expressed their interest in strengthening further interactions.”

The Indian government has reiterated that it does not officially recognise the Taliban government, and only a technical team remains at the Indian Embassy in Kabul. However, India’s willingness to engage with the Taliban signals an openness to further collaboration, especially in humanitarian and developmental projects.

India was previously involved in over 400 development projects across Afghanistan, covering all 34 provinces. These projects included infrastructure, education, and technology initiatives, as well as the construction of the Afghan Parliament building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources indicate that India may ramp up its support for Afghanistan’s reconstruction without formal recognition of the Taliban government. Repeated Taliban assurances that Afghan soil will not be used against India seem to have encouraged New Delhi’s current engagement approach. Additionally, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid has expressed his hope for closer ties with India, including possible cooperation in the defence sector.

The interim Taliban government has repeatedly expressed interest in a stronger relationship with India and has urged New Delhi to permit a Taliban diplomat in the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, emphasising the importance of bilateral ties for both nations.

Since the Taliban took power, Indian officials have made at least five visits to Afghanistan, beginning in June 2022. India also participated in the Afghanistan Regional Cooperation Initiative held in Kabul in January 2024, the Taliban’s first international event since regaining control. These steps reflect India’s strategic interest in maintaining a presence in Afghanistan while balancing the complexities of regional geopolitics.