Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stated that an Indian representative recently visited Kabul to discuss the use of Chabahar Port to strengthen economic ties and provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
During a press conference in Delhi on Thursday, Jaiswal shared details of the Indian delegation’s visit to Afghanistan.
J.P. Singh, head of the Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, led the delegation to Kabul, where they held discussions with Taliban officials.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that Defense Minister Yaqoob Mujahid met with J.P. Singh to discuss mutual interests and the potential for expanding bilateral relations.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, also met with J.P. Singh and expressed a desire for further development of relations between the Taliban administration and New Delhi.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged the Indian delegation to increase its support for Afghan education and to promote trade exchanges between India and Afghanistan.
The Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the meetings focused on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and discussed how the Chabahar Port could be utilized by Afghanistan’s businesses for trade, export, and import activities.
Jaiswal emphasized that providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan remains a crucial part of India’s assistance program, noting that India has already sent several shipments of wheat to the country.
While India has reestablished a presence in Kabul to support humanitarian efforts, formal diplomatic relations with the current Taliban regime have not been established, and India has not officially recognized the Taliban government.
Due to the lack of official diplomatic ties, Afghan students and patients face difficulties obtaining Indian visas to pursue education or medical treatment, as visa restrictions continue to affect access to essential services.
India’s commitment to humanitarian support underscores its ongoing dedication to the people of Afghanistan. However, the absence of official recognition and limited visa access reflect the complex and cautious nature of India’s engagement with Afghanistan under the current regime.