Now Reading: India reaffirms ties with Afghanistan ahead of Taliban anniversary
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India reaffirms ties with Afghanistan ahead of Taliban anniversary
India has reaffirmed its "longstanding ties" with Afghanistan, days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that multiple…
The Story in Brief
India has reaffirmed its "longstanding ties" with Afghanistan, days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that multiple ministerial visits from Afghanistan to India have strengthened cooperation in development, connectivity and trade. He added that New Delhi looks forward to deepening these ties. The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is planning an event on August 17 to mark the anniversary. Charge d'Affaires Noor Ahmed Noor is hosting it.
While Afghan sources claim an Indian official will attend, the MEA has not confirmed. India has not recognised the Taliban government but upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to an embassy last October, and continues to call for an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
The Indian Opinion
Every MEA statement on Afghanistan is read for signs of recognition. India has not granted that, despite hosting several Taliban ministers. The loudest narratives, that New Delhi is either normalising the regime or ignoring Kabul, miss the middle ground: a calibrated engagement driven by Pakistan hostility and a desire to protect India's USD 3 billion investment. The real test remains whether an Indian official attends the Afghan Embassy event on August 17. That single yes-or-no will speak louder than any briefing.
Sources (2): thehindu.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
