New Era in India- Afghanistan relation : Embassy reopening announced

New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News): Breaking its silence on Afghanistan after four years of Taliban rule, India has announced a major strategic move. Following a high-level meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar officially announced the reopening of the Indian Embassy in Kabul. India also expressed its full support for Afghanistan's sovereignty for the first time since 2021.

At this important meeting held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stated that India has always stood with the people of Afghanistan and will continue to provide development and humanitarian assistance. He announced that previously stalled Indian projects in Afghanistan will be restarted. As a goodwill gesture, India also announced the gift of 20 ambulances to Afghanistan.

This announcement marks a major shift in India's Afghan policy. India had adopted a "wait and watch" approach since the Taliban came to power in 2021. With this announcement, India joins a select group of countries, including Russia and Pakistan, that have a full-fledged embassy in Kabul.

Cross-border terrorism was also discussed at the meeting. Jaishankar commended Afghanistan's recent cooperation in the fight against terrorism, particularly its condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi assured India that Afghan soil would not be allowed to be used for any conspiracy against India. Amir Khan Muttaqi is the first foreign minister of the Taliban regime to officially visit New Delhi, a clear sign of normalizing relations between the two countries.