📰 “Afghanistan Sees India as a Close Friend,” Says Taliban FM Amid Embassy Upgrade 🇮🇳🤝🇦🇫
- MediaFx
- Oct 10
- 1 min read
TL;DR:Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi praised India as a “trusted friend,” after New Delhi upgraded its Kabul mission from a technical office to a full-fledged embassy — a major diplomatic step after four years of limited engagement. 🏛️
What Happened?
India reopened its embassy-level operations in Kabul, signaling a cautious yet significant normalization of ties.
Muttaqi called India’s move “a gesture of trust and long-term partnership,” adding that Afghanistan “values India’s developmental cooperation and humanitarian aid.”
Indian officials, however, clarified that the embassy upgrade does not imply formal recognition of the Taliban regime.
Flashback / Context
India had shut its embassy in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover.
Since then, it operated a technical team mainly to distribute humanitarian aid, manage infrastructure projects, and assist Indian citizens.
India has invested over $3 billion in Afghan projects — including the Zaranj–Delaram highway, Parliament building, and Salma Dam.
The embassy upgrade comes as China, Iran, and Russia expand their presence in Kabul.
Who Gains & Who Loses?
Gains: India — re-establishing influence in Afghanistan’s rebuilding phase.
Gains: Taliban — gains symbolic legitimacy and access to potential aid.
Losses: Pakistan — whose monopoly over Kabul’s foreign engagement is now challenged.
People’s Angle
For Afghan citizens, especially students and traders, India’s return offers hope for visas, education, and medical cooperation. 🇮🇳 For Indians, it’s a signal that New Delhi intends to stay relevant in Central Asia’s power dynamics.
MediaFx Take
Diplomacy isn’t always about endorsement — sometimes it’s about presence. 🌏 India’s cautious outreach balances humanitarian concern with strategic foresight, proving that friendship can coexist with realism.
