New Delhi: The Indian diplomat met with the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Kabul. The meeting comes ahead of India’s rising tension with Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.
Recently, M Anand Prakash took over as joint secretary of the external affairs ministry’s Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division. Deputy spokesperson of the Taliban’s foreign ministry, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, said that the discussion was centred around the “recent regional political developments”, details of which were however, not shared.
The meeting also covered bilateral political relations, trade and transit. Ahmad stated that Muttaqi highlighted the development of diplomatic and economic relations with the two countries and urged the Indian investors to utilise good investment opportunities in Afghanistan.
Muttaqi also asked India to strengthen the transportation of people between the two countries. He also said that the issuing of visas should be “returned to normal” for Afghan patients, students and businessmen.
Quoting Prakash, Ahmad said that relations with Afghanistan are important for India, and he hoped to boost their partnership in different fields. He also quoted him as saying that India will continue its cooperation with Kabul and is willing to invest in some infrastructure projects. The work on some projects that were stalled has been resumed. However, no statement about the meeting was issued by the Indian side.
The Taliban foreign ministry also condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The ministry said that such incidents impact regional security.
On April 23, the Taliban foreign ministry said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically condemns the recent attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses our condolences to the bereaved families.”
