Taliban calls India a 'significant regional and economic partner' following high-level talks in Dubai

In a significant development indicating India’s deepening ties with the Taliban, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently met Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai and conveyed India’s readiness to respond to the urgent development needs of the Afghan people.

Muttaqi assured Misri that the Taliban would not allow Afghan territory to be used against India.

This was the highest level of engagement India has had so far with the Taliban since the latter took control of Kabul in 2021. India has represented so far at the level of joint secretary in meetings with the dispensation in Kabul.

Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and boosting trade through Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been developing for goods to bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan.

"In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement on Jan 8.

Interestingly, the meeting in Dubai also took place in the middle of Afghanistan’s fast-deteriorating ties with Islamabad over the activities of the Pakistan Taliban and Pakistan’s retaliatory air strikes on Afghanistan soil.

India had earlier this week expressed solidarity with Afghanistan on the issue, saying Pakistan has developed a habit of blaming neighbours for its internal problems.

“The Afghan side underlined its sensitivities to India's security concerns. The two sides agreed to remain in touch and continue regular contacts at various levels,” according to a statement by the Indian government regarding the Misri-Muttaqi meeting.

Misri raised concerns about the activities of Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT and JeM and Muttaqi assured him Afghanistan will do nothing to undermine India’s security.

In the meeting, India agreed to Afghanistan’s request for material support in the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees. Misri also told the Afghan minister India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programme, according to the statement.

This is significant as India’s support so far was limited to providing humanitarian aid. The Taliban have for quite some time been assuring India of enough security to not just allow it to further strengthen its diplomatic presence in Kabul but also reopen its consulates and resume work on development projects.

While the MEA joint secretary JP Singh, who handles Afghanistan has travelled to Afghanistan on several occasions, Dubai was thought of as the right venue for the first real high-level engagement as it was convenient apparently for both sides to meet there.

Like all major powers, India doesn’t officially recognize the Taliban regime, not least because of its inability to ensure an inclusive government and its treatment of women and girls. The UAE government, which has strong ties with both India and the Taliban, was happy to facilitate the meeting.

“The Foreign Secretary underlined India’s historic friendship with the Afghan people and the strong people-to-people contact between the two countries. The two sides evaluated the ongoing Indian humanitarian assistance programmes,” reads the statement issued by the Indian government.

The Taliban in a statement said that they called for enhancing trade, political and diplomatic ties and for facilitating visas for Afghan businessmen, students and patients.

The government’s decision to send 50000 MT of wheat to the drought-affected Afghanistan in late 2021, despite the Taliban’s past animosity towards India, led to the start of the present detente.

Muttaqi appreciated and thanked the Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan, said the Indian government.

“The two sides also discussed strengthening of sports (cricket) cooperation, which is highly valued by the young generation of Afghanistan,” said the government in a statement, adding they also agreed to promote the use of Chabahar port for supporting trade and commercial activities, including for the purpose of humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.

“It may be recalled that in response to the needs of the Afghan people, India decided to extend humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. India has so far dispatched several shipments consisting of 50,000 MTs of wheat, 300 tons of medicines, 27 tons of earthquake relief aid, 40,000 litres of pesticides, 100 million polio doses, 1.5 million doses of COVID Vaccine, 11,000 units of hygiene kits for the drug de-addiction programme, 500 units of winter clothing and 1.2 tons of stationery kits, etc,” reads the statement issued by the Indian government.