Dubai, Jan 8 (NVI) In a major development, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri today met Acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban regime of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi here and affirmed commitment to continue to provide humanitarian and developmental assistance to the Afghan people.
At the delegation-level talks, Misri also conveyed India’s keenness to promote trade and commerce with Afghanistan, including through Chabahar port.
This is significant since India has yet not officially recognised the Taliban, which militarily seized power in August 2021, as the government of Afghanistan.
“Both sides discussed India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bilateral issues and security situation in the region,” said spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry Randhir Jaiswal.
“India reiterated its commitment to continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Afghan people,” he said.
“India will also extend its support to the health sector and rehabilitation of refugees in the country,” Jaiswal said.
The significant meeting comes two days after India issued a statement, condemning Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan, which killed 47 innocent civilians, including women and children, and injured 23 others.
Pakistan carried out airstrikes at multiple places in Paktika Province of Afghanistan on December 25, 2024, claiming it had targeted the camps of Islamist militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) there which are used to conduct attacks in Pakistan.
It vowed to avenge Pakistan’s action and the subsequent days saw an escalation in tensions, along with increased cross-border mobilisation and shelling.
“We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians,” he added.
The Indian government spokesman virtually echoed the contention of the Taliban regime as he said, “It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.”
The Taliban regime, while maintaining that there is no TTP presence in Afghanistan, has been saying that the attacks taking place in Pakistan reflected its failure of maintaining law and order internally.
“We have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard,” Jaiswal said, apparently referring to the threat of retaliation given by the Taliban regime to Pakistan. (NVI)
