India and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have taken tentative steps to ease their strained relations following the group’s takeover in 2021, Bloomberg reports.
This comes after a three-year period of limited engagement following the chaotic US withdrawal.
The Taliban, seeking to improve ties with India, has requested the resumption of development projects in the poverty-stricken country. This request was made during a meeting between a top Indian diplomat, J.P. Singh, and the Taliban’s Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid in Kabul last week. This marked India’s first official meeting with Mujahid, a key decision-maker within the group.
The Taliban also requested Indian investment in Afghanistan’s untapped mineral resources and the restarting of infrastructure projects, including road construction. While India has received similar requests previously, this marks the first time such a request came directly from the Taliban’s top leadership.
Before the Taliban’s takeover, India had actively engaged in over 500 development and infrastructure projects across Afghanistan, covering sectors like power, water, education, and healthcare. However, following the US withdrawal and the Taliban’s seizure of power, India closed its embassy in Kabul and limited its engagement to occasional humanitarian aid.
The Taliban’s efforts to improve ties with India also extend beyond Kabul. Hafiz Ikramuddin Kamil has been appointed as the acting consul in Mumbai, according to the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency, aiming to provide consular services to Afghan citizens in India. Indian officials clarified that this appointment does not constitute recognition of the Taliban government but serves to address the Afghan community’s need for services like document authentication.
