India to upgrade Technical Mission in Kabul to embassy status, Jaishankar tells Taliban minister

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday told Afghanistan's foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that India will reopen its embassy in Kabul in a move that will restore full diplomatic ties with the Taliban regime.

Muttaqi is in a visit to New Delhi in the first official high-level visit by a Taliban representative.

Speaking to the Afghanistani foreign minister, Jaishankar said: “Your visit marks an important step in advancing India-Afghanistan ties. As a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in your development. Today, I reaffirm that our long-standing partnership, which has supported numerous Indian projects in Afghanistan, continues to stand strong."

He announced that India will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India.

"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 Embassy of India," he said.

India had shut down its embassy in Kabul following the takeover of Taliban in 2021.

Jaishankar also said said that the visit of the Taliban minister marks an important step in advancing bilateral ties and affirming the enduring friendship between India and Afghanistan.

"We have had opportunities to speak to each other, once after the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the second time, after the Kunar and Nangarhar earthquake. However, a meeting between us in person has a special value in allowing us to exchange perspectives, identify common interests and forge closer cooperation... As a first responder, Indian relief materials were delivered to the earthquake sites within hours of the disaster last month. We would like to contribute to the reconstruction of residences in the affected areas," he said.