India holds first ministerial-level talks with Taliban, focus on terror attack condemnation

Historic India-Taliban ministerial call

India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, had an official conversation with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. This call marks India’s first ministerial-level engagement with the Taliban administration, which New Delhi has not formally recognized.

The dialogue gains importance after the Taliban condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians, mainly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-linked militants.

Reaffirming ties and countering misinformation

After the call, Dr. Jaishankar posted on social media, highlighting the Taliban’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. He reiterated India’s traditional friendship with the Afghan people and expressed the intention to support Afghanistan’s development.

He also addressed attempts by Pakistan to spread false narratives linking the Taliban with terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Jaishankar acknowledged Muttaqi’s firm denial of such allegations, emphasizing the importance of accurate information for India-Afghanistan relations.

Chabahar Port and humanitarian concerns

During the conversation, Amir Khan Muttaqi requested India to issue more visas to Afghan nationals, particularly for medical purposes. Topics discussed included:

• Increasing bilateral trade
• Repatriation of Afghan prisoners from Indian jails
• Development of Iran’s Chabahar Port as a key trade route

Given Afghanistan’s dependency on Pakistan-controlled land routes, the Chabahar Port holds strategic value. With India-Pakistan trade ties severed, Chabahar remains a vital link for Afghan-Indian trade.

Ongoing India-Taliban diplomatic engagements

Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, India has cautiously engaged with Afghanistan’s current administration. Several meetings between Indian diplomats and Taliban officials have taken place to discuss cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Recent notable engagements include:

• Anand Prakash’s visit to Kabul in April 2025 to meet Amir Khan Muttaqi.
• Multiple visits by J P Singh in 2024 to meet Afghan leaders.
• A high-level meeting in Dubai in January 2025 between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Muttaqi.

These discussions have focused on humanitarian assistance, trade facilitation, regional security, and cultural exchange.

Strengthening consular and humanitarian support

India has also allowed the Taliban to gradually manage Afghan missions in Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. This step aims to streamline consular services for Afghan nationals in India, including students, business travelers, and patients seeking medical care.

In humanitarian efforts, India has provided significant aid to Afghanistan, including:

• Over 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat
• 300 tonnes of medicines
• 27 tonnes of earthquake relief supplies
• 100 million polio vaccine doses
• 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses
• Various hygiene kits, winter clothing, and educational materials

India’s ministerial-level outreach to the Taliban reflects a strategic diplomatic move to stabilize relations, counter misinformation, and ensure continued support for Afghan citizens. While formal recognition of the Taliban regime remains pending, India’s engagement indicates a pragmatic approach to regional cooperation.

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