India announced on Thursday that its “technical mission” in Kabul will be upgraded to a full-fledged embassy within the next few days.
During a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Our technical mission has been operational in Kabul since June 2022. Its transition to an embassy will take place in the coming days.”
The announcement follows External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s recent meeting with Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, during which Dr. Jaishankar confirmed India’s intention to reopen its embassy in Kabul.
Commenting on the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes, Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s unwavering support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
“We are closely monitoring the situation. Three facts remain clear: Pakistan continues to host and sponsor terrorist organisations; it has a long-standing practice of blaming its neighbours for its internal issues; and it is agitated by Afghanistan’s assertion of sovereignty over its own territory. India remains fully committed to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence,” he said.
On October 10, India announced its decision to upgrade its “technical mission” in Kabul to an embassy — marking the first significant step toward normalising diplomatic relations with the Taliban government since the group’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces.
Jaishankar made the declaration during his meeting with Muttaqi, who visited New Delhi last week — the first such visit by a Taliban foreign minister to India. Muttaqi, in turn, confirmed that Afghanistan would dispatch diplomats to New Delhi as part of a phased effort to strengthen bilateral ties.
India had closed its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban assumed control in August 2021 but re-established a limited diplomatic presence in June 2022 through a deployed “technical team.”
Welcoming the Taliban delegation last Friday, Jaishankar described the visit as “an important step in advancing our bilateral relations and reaffirming the enduring friendship between India and Afghanistan.”
He further stated, “India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan. Closer cooperation between our nations will contribute to Afghanistan’s national development as well as regional stability and resilience. In line with this commitment, I am pleased to announce the upgrading of India’s technical mission in Kabul to the Embassy of India.” (Source: IE)
