Indian official holds talks with Taliban amid rising India-Pakistan tensions

Kabul: Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary of the Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran (PAI) Division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), held discussions with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Kabul, focusing on a broad range of bilateral matters including political ties, trade, transit, and regional developments.

The meeting comes at a time when diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have sharply deteriorated following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.

Minister Muttaqi emphasised the need to expand diplomatic and economic relations between Afghanistan and India. He highlighted Afghanistan's current investment-friendly environment and urged Indian businesses and investors to take advantage of the improving conditions in the country, according to a post by Hafiz Zia Ahmad, Deputy Spokesman for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Although the Taliban-led government is not officially recognised by any nation or global organisation, India has maintained a diplomatic presence in Kabul.

Prakash expressed optimism about deepening ties in multiple sectors and reiterated India's support for ongoing development cooperation. He also conveyed India's interest in investing in new infrastructure projects and reviving several initiatives that had stalled following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.

The visit underscores New Delhi's cautious yet strategic approach to maintaining influence in Afghanistan, even as regional tensions escalate.