In a significant development signaling a shift in regional dynamics, India has announced the reopening of its embassy in Kabul, nearly four years after it was closed following the Taliban's takeover in 2021. The decision, revealed on Friday by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, marks New Delhi's first formal diplomatic engagement with the Taliban administration.

The announcement followed talks in New Delhi between Jaishankar and Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is on a six-day visit to India. This visit is the first by a Taliban leader since 2021, highlighting the evolving relationship between the two nations. Muttaqi's travel was facilitated by a temporary exemption from a UN Security Council travel ban.

"India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan," Jaishankar stated during the meeting, emphasizing India's deep interest in Afghanistan's development and progress. He also noted that closer cooperation would contribute to regional stability and resilience and announced the upgrading of India's "technical mission" in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy.

The embassy was initially closed after the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces in 2021, though India maintained a small mission to oversee trade, medical support, and humanitarian aid. A "technical team" was deployed in June 2022 to re-establish a diplomatic presence.

Muttaqi expressed that Afghanistan "has always sought good relations with India". He also assured that Afghanistan would not allow any group to use its territory against another country. "Afghanistan looks at India as a close friend," Muttaqi said, emphasizing the desire for relations based on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people ties. He also acknowledged India as the first responder to the recent earthquake in Afghanistan.

The move signals a pragmatic approach by India, balancing its historical wariness of the Taliban with the need to engage with the current reality in Afghanistan and to counter the influence of regional rivals. Experts suggest that this decision reflects a strategic reassessment, driven by the consequences of previous non-engagement.

Both sides unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries, underscoring the importance of promoting peace, stability, and mutual trust in the region. Jaishankar appreciated Afghanistan's condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in April 2025.

The discussions also covered a range of issues, including cooperation in water management, irrigation, and the sustainable management of water resources. Muttaqi invited Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan, which Jaishankar welcomed. Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in sports, especially cricket, and welcomed the commencement of the India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor to enhance direct trade.

With the reopening of the embassy, India joins a number of countries, including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, that have maintained diplomatic missions in Kabul. Russia is the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban administration.