New Delhi: During a historic meeting in Dubai on Wednesday, Afghan Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. This marked the first official encounter between the two sides at this level. During the talks, the Afghan side acknowledged India’s security concerns, with an emphasis on the presence of Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Afghanistan.

India has reiterated its request for the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil is not used by anti-India elements. In response to Afghanistan’s request, India agreed to offer material support, especially in the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees, following Pakistan’s expulsion of over 500,000 Afghan refugees.

Both sides also discussed the promotion of trade and commercial activities through Iran’s Chabahar port, with India expressing its ongoing commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Misri emphasized India’s historic ties with the Afghan people and confirmed India’s readiness to assist with Afghanistan’s development needs.

In addition to humanitarian aid, which has included shipments of wheat, medicines, and vaccines, India is considering further involvement in development projects in Afghanistan. The Taliban expressed gratitude for India’s support and engagement with the Afghan people.

During the meeting, both sides also assessed India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance programs, which have included substantial shipments of aid such as 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 300 tonnes of medicines, 40,000 liters of pesticides, 100 million doses of the polio vaccine, and winter clothing, among other items. Despite the challenges following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, India has maintained its support for the Afghan people, including the delivery of critical supplies.

The two sides also agreed to continue regular communication and remain in contact at various levels. Notably, India’s engagement with the Taliban has been primarily managed by JP Singh, the Joint Secretary handling the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division in the Ministry of External Affairs. This marks a significant shift in India’s approach to diplomacy in Afghanistan, as India had previously withdrawn all diplomats following the Taliban’s rise to power, re-establishing a limited diplomatic presence through a technical team in 2022.

The meeting in Dubai followed India’s condemnation of Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan, which killed at least 46 civilians in late December. India criticized Pakistan for blaming neighboring countries for its internal problems and reaffirmed its stance on the need for a stable and secure Afghanistan.

Through these interactions, India continues to navigate its relationship with the Taliban, providing crucial humanitarian aid while carefully balancing its security concerns in the region.