Indian Diplomats Hold Talks With Taliban In First Visit To Afghanistan Under New Regime

The meeting focused on the diplomatic relations between two sides besides bilateral trade and humanitarian aid.

Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and MEA Joint Secretary J.P. Singh (Image: MEA)

New Delhi: Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, received Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary J.P. Singh and the accompanying delegation in Kabul on Thursday.

The meeting focused on the diplomatic relations between two sides besides bilateral trade and humanitarian aid.

Muttaqi welcomed the first Indian delegation to Kabul on behalf of the Indian government and the MEA, calling it a good beginning in ties between the two countries.

He also expressed gratitude for the recent Indian humanitarian and medical assistance to AFG, stressing the resumption of projects by India, their diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and the provision of consular services to the Afghans, particularly to the Afghan students and patients.

The Indian delegation said that they sought positive relations with Afghanistan as in the past.

India and Afghanistan have a strong relationship based on historical and cultural links.

The relationship is not limited to the governments in New Delhi and Kabul, but has its foundations in the historical contacts and exchanges between the people.

The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the two sides, inter alia, provides for assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure and institutions, education and technical assistance to re-build indigenous Afghan capacity in different areas, encouraging investment in Afghanistan's natural resources, providing duty free access to the Indian market for Afghanistan's exports support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.

India-Afghanistan relationship is characterized by regular high-level exchanges. The leaders of the two sides have met each other during bilateral visits as well as on the sidelines of international events.