Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced today that his country will upgrade its technical mission in Afghanistan to a full embassy, during a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi.
“We have a shared commitment to growth and prosperity, but they are threatened by the threat of cross-border terrorism that our two countries face together,” Jaishankar said during the meeting.
He praised Kabul’s “solidarity” with India after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, accusing Pakistan of being behind it, a charge Islamabad denies, according to news reports.
“We appreciate Afghanistan’s understanding of India’s security concerns,” the Indian minister added.
For his part, Muttaqi said, “Afghanistan views India as a close friend,” pointing to the assistance New Delhi provided after the devastating earthquake in September.
“We will not allow anyone to threaten others or use Afghan territory against them,” he added.
Mottaki’s visit to India was approved by the UN Security Council after he was granted an exemption from travel restrictions. It is expected to generate widespread interest in neighboring Pakistan as New Delhi strengthens its engagement with the Taliban government.
This is the first visit by a senior Taliban official to India since the movement’s return to power.
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