A high-level meeting between senior Indian officials and the Afghan Taliban leadership took place in Dubai on Wednesday. Representing India was Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, represented Afghanistan.
This meeting is seen as a significant step in reviving and fostering bilateral ties, which have remained largely dormant since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Despite limited engagement, New Delhi has continued providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
The primary agenda of the Dubai meeting was to enhance cooperation across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, developmental assistance, trade, commerce, sports, cultural exchanges, regional security, and critical infrastructure projects.
One focal point of the discussions was the Chabahar Port in Iran, which serves as a strategic supply route for goods to Afghanistan. While India and Afghanistan share a land border, it has remained inaccessible due to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Commitments and Support
During the meeting, India pledged further humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, with priority placed on healthcare, medicine supply, and refugee rehabilitation. Over recent years, New Delhi has provided significant aid, including 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 300 tonnes of medicines, earthquake relief aid, vaccines, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies.
The Afghan foreign minister expressed gratitude for India’s continued support and engagement with the Afghan people. India's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its readiness to address the urgent developmental needs of Afghanistan. "In view of the current need for development activities, it was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future," a statement from the ministry confirmed.
Regional Security and Strategic Projects
Kabul assured India of its sensitivity to regional security concerns, emphasizing full cooperation on this front. A joint statement highlighted the agreement to further utilize Chabahar Port to support trade, commercial activities, and humanitarian aid delivery.
Foreign Secretary Misri also underscored India’s deep-rooted cultural and historical ties with Afghanistan. "The foreign secretary underlined India's historic friendship with the Afghan people and the strong people-to-people contacts between the two countries," noted the ministry.
Strengthening Sporting Ties
Sports, particularly cricket—a shared passion in both nations—was also discussed during the talks. Both sides agreed to explore ways to strengthen their sporting connections.
Regional Tensions and Pakistan’s Airstrikes
The Dubai meeting followed India’s strong condemnation of Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan earlier this week. On December 24, Pakistani airstrikes in Barmal district, Paktika province, killed 46 people, including women and children. This marked the second such strike in 2024, with a similar attack in March claiming eight lives, including children.
In response to the airstrikes, India issued a sharp statement: “We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbors for its own internal failures,” said the foreign ministry.
Historical Context
The Taliban, a predominantly Pashtun group, refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Initially forming a government in 1996, the Taliban was ousted in 2001 by the US-led coalition following the 9/11 attacks. However, in 2021, the group regained power after the abrupt withdrawal of US forces, establishing itself as the governing authority in Afghanistan.
This meeting in Dubai marks a key effort by India and Afghanistan to navigate complex geopolitical challenges while strengthening mutual cooperation in the region.
