Overview

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi on May 15, 2025, marking India's first public ministerial-level engagement with the Taliban since 2021.
• Both sides condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with India appreciating the Taliban's rejection of false claims aimed at creating distrust between the two nations.
• Discussions covered key areas of cooperation, including trade facilitation, development projects, Chabahar Port collaboration, visa processing, and the repatriation of Afghan prisoners in India.
• The Taliban reiterated its interest in normalizing ties with India and invited Indian investment to support Afghanistan's development, reflecting its broader push for international legitimacy.
• India remains cautious, maintaining its non-recognition of the Taliban government while exploring humanitarian aid for Afghan refugees and broader engagement to safeguard regional stability.