India to reopen embassy in Kabul as Jaishankar meets Taliban foreign minister in first high-level talks since 2021

Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visits New Delhi after UN travel exemption

October 10, 2025

Jaishankar announces upgrade of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to full embassy status

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday held talks with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, marking the first high-level engagement between India and the Taliban regime since the group took control of Kabul in 2021 after the withdrawal of US forces.

Welcoming Muttaqi and his delegation, Jaishankar said the meeting signified a fresh step toward rebuilding ties between the two neighbours.

“We welcome you and your delegation to India. This visit marks a step in advancing our ties. We had opportunities to speak with each other during the Pahalgam attack and the earthquakes in Afghanistan,” he said.

Emphasising the importance of direct dialogue, Jaishankar noted,

“Meeting in person has special value in changing perspectives and sharing interests. As a contiguous neighbour and a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in your development and progress.”

In a major diplomatic development, Jaishankar announced that India will reopen its embassy in Kabul, upgrading the existing Technical Mission to a full-fledged embassy.

“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan. Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience. To enhance that, I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India,” he said.

Muttaqi, who remains under UN sanctions, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday after receiving a temporary travel exemption from the UN Security Council Committee. His visit follows his participation in a multilateral conference on Afghanistan hosted in Russia, which also included representatives from India, China, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian nations.

The meeting is being viewed as a significant diplomatic move by India, reflecting its effort to re-engage with Afghanistan amid shifting regional dynamics and growing international dialogue with the Taliban government.

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