In a major diplomatic breakthrough, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar announced that India will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy of India. The announcement was made during bilateral talks with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
“I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India. India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” Dr Jaishankar said on Friday (October 10, 2025), after meeting Muttaqi in New Delhi.
The India visit of Afghan foreign minister Muttaqi marks a step in advancing India-Afghanistan ties. He received a warm welcome on his arrival on Thursday (October 9, 2025). This is the first time New Delhi is officially hosting a leader of the Taliban regime that took power in Kabul in 2021.
Indian Embassy in Kabul: A new chapter starting in New Delhi-Kabul relations?
India and Afghanistan have had opportunities to speak with each other during the Pahalgam attack and earthquakes in Afghanistan. However, this is the first time that Muttaqi met EAM Jaishankar. “As a contiguous neighbour and a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in your development and progress,” the EAM said.
He underscored that closer cooperation would help both Afghanistan’s development and regional stability. With this, Jaishankar also declared that India will reopen its embassy in Kabul, marking a clear recalibration of engagement with Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” Jaishankar told Muttaqi in his opening remarks. “Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience,” he said, adding that India’s “technical mission” in Kabul was being upgraded to an embassy.
The move signals New Delhi’s intent to re-establish a diplomatic footprint and shape developments on the ground through renewed presence and influence. Jaishankar also expressed appreciation for Kabul’s openness to Indian businesses, especially in key sectors.
India-Afghanistan relations: What’s the next step ahead?
In addition to the reopening of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan has also extended an invitation to Indian firms to pursue mining opportunities there. “Your invitation to Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan is deeply appreciated,” EAM Jaishankar underlined.
India and Afghanistan have a shared interest in boosting trade and commerce. I am glad to note the commencement of additional flights between Kabul and New Delhi, he added.
How is Kabul responding to India’s re-engagement?
Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi declared that Kabul would deepen its ties with India and ensure Afghan soil is not misused. “India and Afghanistan should increase their engagements and exchanges. We will not allow any group to use our territory against others,” he said.
Calling India a “close friend,” Muttaqi praised New Delhi’s swift assistance during the recent earthquake.c“In the recent earthquake in Afghanistan, India was the first responder. Afghanistan wants relations based on mutual respect, trade and people-to-people relations,” he said, proposing a consultative mechanism to strengthen cooperation.
Does this signal a new security understanding?
Jaishankar acknowledged Afghanistan’s solidarity after the Pahalgam terror attack and its sensitivity toward India’s security concerns, saying “Your visit marks an important step in advancing our ties and affirming the enduring friendship between India and Afghanistan”.
He also recalled previous conversations following terror incidents and earthquakes, stressing that the in-person meeting helps “exchange perspectives, identify common interests and forge closer cooperation.” Reaffirming India’s role in Afghan welfare, Jaishankar announced a new slate of assistance.
- Six new health projects (details to follow post talks)
- Gift of 20 ambulances, with 5 handed over during the meeting
- MRI and CT machines for Afghan hospitals
- Vaccine supplies and cancer medicines
- Drug rehabilitation materials via UNODC, with scope for more
India continues its legacy of health security support, including during COVID-19.
Is counterterrorism cooperation back on the table?
Highlighting the shared risks, Jaishankar stressed that both countries face threats from cross-border terrorism. “We must coordinate efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said. This indicates a strategic convergence that could reshape regional security conversations.
Amir Khan Muttaqi is on a week-long visit to India from October 9–16, marking the first high-level delegation from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban took power in 2021. The visit is being seen as a diplomatic thaw and a potential turning point in South Asia’s geopolitical calculus.
Muttaqi’s India visit: Is it the start of a new chapter in India–Afghanistan ties?
With the embassy upgrade, health and humanitarian commitments, economic prospects, and assurances on terrorism, both sides appear poised to rebuild ties on a new foundation. The developments suggest New Delhi is preparing to reclaim its role as a key partner in Afghanistan’s recovery.