Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, described the visit of an Indian delegation to Afghanistan as a “positive start” in bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan visited Indian MEA Joint Secretary J.P. Singh and his delegation today.” The discussion focused on diplomatic relations, bilateral trade, and humanitarian help between India and Afghanistan, according to an official statement released by the Afghan Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
India has dispatched a delegation of foreign ministry officials to Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, for discussions with senior Taliban figures, the first such encounter since the tumultuous US exit last year.

FM Muttaqi greeted the first Indian delegation in Kabul, calling it “a good start in bilateral relations.”

He also expressed appreciation for India’s recent humanitarian and medical aid to Afghanistan.

[embedpost slug=”un-security-council-calls-for-reversal-of-taliban-policies-on-women/”]

According to the statement, the foreign minister emphasised India’s resumption of projects, diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, and provision of consular services to Afghans, particularly students and patients.

According to the statement, the Indian team sought cordial relations with Afghanistan, as they had in the past, and committed to continue their help to the war-torn country.

“India would consider assisting and cooperating with Afghanistan in a variety of fields, and while India has recently opened its borders and ports to Afghanistan exports, resulting in higher Afghan exports than in previous years, they would provide additional assistance in this area to help Afghanistan increase its exports and strengthen its economy.”