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India Restores Embassy in Kabul With Immediate Effect

New Delhi signals deeper engagement with Afghanistan without extending formal recognition to the Taliban.

Overview

  • The External Affairs Ministry said the upgrade from a technical mission takes effect immediately, following Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s Oct. 9–16 visit when S. Jaishankar announced the intent.
  • The embassy will be led initially by a chargé d’affaires, reflecting India’s continued non-recognition of the Taliban authorities.
  • India says the post will scale up cooperation on development, humanitarian assistance and capacity-building, with officials highlighting healthcare, infrastructure and trade connectivity projects.
  • During talks in New Delhi, Muttaqi reiterated that Afghan territory would not be allowed to be used against India, as both sides stressed sovereignty and counterterrorism priorities.
  • India had shut its Kabul embassy in August 2021 and maintained a limited technical team from June 2022, and the move comes after recent AfghanistanPakistan border clashes that paused under a mediated ceasefire.