Web Desk: India has officially reopened its embassy in Kabul after a three-year closure, marking a significant shift in its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan.
The embassy had been shut down in 2021 when the Taliban took control of Kabul following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. A limited technical mission was later established in 2022 to manage trade, medical support, and humanitarian operations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday that the technical mission’s status had been restored to that of a full-fledged embassy “with immediate effect.”
The statement said the decision reflected India’s determination to deepen bilateral relations with Afghanistan across all areas of shared interest. It added that the embassy would help strengthen India’s support for Afghanistan’s development, humanitarian projects, and capacity-building initiatives in line with the Afghan people’s aspirations.
Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had earlier announced the reopening during his meeting with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi — the first official visit by a Taliban leader to India since 2021.
Though New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban regime, it has gradually increased engagement through diplomatic talks and humanitarian collaboration.
Currently, embassies from about a dozen nations — including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye — are operational in Kabul. However, Russia remains the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban government.
