VOI World/ Astha Pandey
In a statement that could reshape the dynamics of South Asia’s diplomatic map and realignment in South Asia’s strategic landscape, by Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Taliban’s Defence Minister who has recently said that Afghanistan will “strengthen” its ties with India. This statement marks one of the strongest diplomatic overtures yet, Taliban leadership of its intent to build independent relations with New Delhi distinct from Islamabad’s influence.
The statement was made during his diplomatic visit to New Delhi, when along with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s, where discussions focused on trade, aid and regional connectivity took place. India has quietly reopened its mission in Kabul, signalling limited engagement without formally recognising the Taliban regime.
The Indian government is now taking a step forward in engaging with Taliban, working on the realignment driven by economic necessity and geopolitical balance, this recalls and signals a potential partnership over trade as well.
However, in his statement Yaqoob has also dismissed the recent Pakistan accusations that Kabul is acting as India’s proxy in regional confl icts, calling the charges as “baseless and irrational.” His comments come as in backdrop of the recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply escalated, with the two countries locked in their most intense border clashes since the Taliban seized power in 2021. The recent fighting along the Durand Line left dozens dead on both sides after Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory triggered retaliatory fi re from Kabul. Pakistan blamed the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for cross-border terrorism, alleging that Afghan soil was being used for attacks, a claim the Taliban government now firmly denies.
For India, the statement comes at a time when it is recalibrating its engagement with Afghanistan along with upgrading its mission in Kabul to a full embassy, however not providing any formal recognition of the Taliban regime, instead expanding its diplomatic presence to oversee aid, infrastructure, and regional development projects.
The key here is a cautious recalibration maintaining influence in Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts while monitoring the group’s domestic record on governance and human rights.
