KABUL:
The Taliban’s foreign office has expressed that India is considered a “significant regional and economic partner” following a high-level meeting with India’s senior foreign ministry official, marking the most senior talks between Delhi and Kabul since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry released a statement indicating that the discussions centered around strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port, which India has been developing to circumvent Pakistan’s Karachi and Gwadar ports.
The statement emphasized that Afghanistan’s foreign policy, which prioritizes economic growth, aims to deepen both political and economic connections with India. India’s foreign ministry also mentioned that it is exploring further engagements with the Taliban.
