India will reopen its embassy in Kabul as it seeks to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced on Thursday.
“I’m pleased to announce today the upgrading of India’s technical mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India,” Jaishankar said during a meeting in New Delhi with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Muttaqi’s visit marks the first by a senior Taliban official to India since the militant group seized power in 2021, toppling the U.S.-backed Afghan government.
Like many countries, India shut down its embassy and froze official engagement after the Taliban takeover. But recent months have seen cautious steps toward reestablishing contact. In January, Muttaqi and India’s Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri met in Dubai, agreeing to boost trade through Iran as a transit corridor, according to Bloomberg News. Jaishankar and Muttaqi also held follow-up discussions in May on deepening cooperation.
The decision to restore the embassy comes amid China’s expanding influence in the region. Afghanistan’s position as a gateway between Central and South Asia gives it strategic importance for both Asian powers. Chinese companies have continued investing in Afghanistan’s mining and infrastructure sectors even after the Taliban’s return to power.
Jaishankar said discussions on development projects and partnerships would resume, highlighting India’s past role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction. “Your invitation to Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan is also deeply appreciated,” he noted.
Before 2021, India financed or executed more than 500 development and infrastructure projects across Afghanistan, covering sectors such as energy, water, education, and healthcare.
The timing of Muttaqi’s visit is notable as Pakistan, India’s regional rival, experiences tensions in its own relations with Kabul. The trip may also bolster the Taliban’s efforts to gain greater international legitimacy.
However, the visit began under uneasy circumstances, with Afghan authorities investigating an explosion in Kabul on Thursday. No injuries or damage were reported, according to the Associated Press.
India’s move to reopen its embassy signals a pragmatic recalibration of its Afghanistan policy — one balancing regional competition, strategic interests, and the complexities of engaging with a government still struggling for global recognition.
