https://sputniknews.in/20251010/india-restores-embassy-in-afghanistan-how-does-it-bolster-stability-in-south-asia-9904778.html
Will India Reopening Afghan Embassy Bolster South Asian Stability?
Will India Reopening Afghan Embassy Bolster South Asian Stability?
Sputnik India
EAM Jaishankar told Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday that India would restore its embassy in Kabul to forge closer bilateral ties, which would contribute to regional stability.
2025-10-10T20:33+0530
2025-10-10T20:33+0530
2025-10-12T10:53+0530
sputnik opinion
s. jaishankar
donald trump
afghanistan
kabul
india
taliban
pakistan
daesh (isis/is/islamic state)
central asia
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e9/0a/0a/9907765_0:0:1024:577_1920x0_80_0_0_951486172f3062fdd1232d08ab929c45.jpg
Jaishankar said India remained fully committed to "sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan."That followed US President Donald Trump's demand that Afghanistan cede control of Bagram air base to the US as well as Pakistan's cross-border strikes in Afghanistan on Thursday.During his meeting with Muttaqi in New Delhi, Jaishankar also called for increased coordination between India and Afghanistan to combat the threat of terrorism.He thanked the Taliban for their sensitivity to Indian security concerns.Muttaqi assured that the Taliban would not allow the Afghan territory to be used against India.Jaishankar also renewed New Delhi's commitment to a development partnership with Afghanistan, which has faced setbacks since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.Since 2021, just a handful of countries have maintained full-fledged embassies in Kabul. They include Russia, which recently became the first country to recognise the Taliban-led government, as well as China, Pakistan and Iran.Retired Indian diplomat Talmiz Ahmad, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, said that a full-fledged Indian mission in Kabul would not only keep New Delhi better informed about the developments within the country and the broader neighbourhood, but also help in cement ties with "like-minded" foreign powers and domestic groups."An Indian Embassy in Kabul will be in a much better position to coordinate with like-minded actors to see to it that the American proposal doesn't come to fruition," he said.The veteran diplomat cautioned that "extra-territorial control" of the Bagram base or re-stationing of foreign troops would be "extremely harmful" for Afghanistan's stability, which would also run against India's long-term interests.Diplomatic ties would help India develop closer ties with various groups and factions operating in Afghanistan, he said."Besides having factions among themselves, the Taliban is also grappling with the problem of having external role-players who are trying to create some strategic space for their own interests," he added.He noted that India has always had a cultural relationship with Afghanistan, underpinned by close affinity towards the Afghan people."We have been the biggest regional developmental partner there and our projects are present in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan," Ahmad said."We have very important strategic interests in having a stable Afghanistan, be it in terms of counter-terrorism or connectivity among others," he stressed.The diplomat stressed the embassy would benefit counter-terror cooperation, seen as another crucial metric of ensuring regional stability in South Asia."Our full-fledged diplomatic presence there will be able to strengthen the elements that are opposed to the IS and therefore help in promoting stability and security within Afghanistan," he added.Ahmad, who has served as head of multiple foreign missions during service, noted that the technical mission that India has had in Kabul since June 2022 was only meant to ensure coordination for humanitarian assistance, consular and visa issues.He suggested that the new ambassador would be able to help the Afghan people, including women and children, benefit from Indian development projects."I am confident that some of the harsh policy measures of the Taliban will be moderated," Ahmad said. "Perhaps as a result of some of the influence that we bring to bear and then at the end of the day."The commentator argued that Indian aid would not only benefit Afghanistan but be of strategic importance to India as it seeks to expand connectivity in the region, including the Iranian port of Chabahar.*under UN sanctions for terrorism
https://sputniknews.in/20251010/india-committed-to-afghanistans-sovereignty-jaishankar-assures-afghan-fm-9903226.html
afghanistan
kabul
india
pakistan
central asia
central asian republics (cars)
russia
china
iran
chabahar port
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2025
Dhairya Maheshwari
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e6/0c/13/138962_0:0:641:640_100x100_80_0_0_2cb44360dbcdf6d84bf4b299cd045917.jpg
Dhairya Maheshwari
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e6/0c/13/138962_0:0:641:640_100x100_80_0_0_2cb44360dbcdf6d84bf4b299cd045917.jpg
News
en_IN
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e9/0a/0a/9907765_17:0:926:682_1920x0_80_0_0_b64d33326921f906c68b0385591a9ed3.jpgSputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Dhairya Maheshwari
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e6/0c/13/138962_0:0:641:640_100x100_80_0_0_2cb44360dbcdf6d84bf4b299cd045917.jpg
indian embassy in afghanistan, afghan foreign minister visit to india, amir khan muttaqi visit to india, indian technical team in kabul, pakistani strikes in kabul, bagram air base, bagram base trump, ttp in afghanistan, taliban news, afghanistan news, muttaqi india visit, jaishankar muttaqi meeting
indian embassy in afghanistan, afghan foreign minister visit to india, amir khan muttaqi visit to india, indian technical team in kabul, pakistani strikes in kabul, bagram air base, bagram base trump, ttp in afghanistan, taliban news, afghanistan news, muttaqi india visit, jaishankar muttaqi meeting
Will India Reopening Afghan Embassy Bolster South Asian Stability?
20:33 10.10.2025 (Updated: 10:53 12.10.2025) Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar told his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday that India will reopen its embassy in Kabul to forge closer bilateral ties, which would not only benefit Afghanistan but also contribute to regional stability.
Jaishankar said India remained fully committed to "sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan."
That followed US President Donald Trump's demand that Afghanistan cede control of Bagram air base to the US as well as Pakistan's cross-border strikes in Afghanistan on Thursday.
During his meeting with Muttaqi in New Delhi, Jaishankar also called for increased coordination between India and Afghanistan to combat the threat of terrorism.
He thanked the Taliban for their sensitivity to Indian security concerns.
Muttaqi assured that the Taliban would not allow the Afghan territory to be used against India.
Jaishankar also renewed New Delhi's commitment to a development partnership with Afghanistan, which has faced setbacks since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Since 2021, just a handful of countries have maintained full-fledged embassies in Kabul.
They include Russia, which recently became the first country to recognise the Taliban-led government, as well as
China,
Pakistan and
Iran.Retired Indian diplomat Talmiz Ahmad, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, said that a full-fledged Indian mission in Kabul would not only keep New Delhi better informed about the developments within the country and the broader neighbourhood, but also help in cement ties with "like-minded" foreign powers and domestic groups.
"When it comes to the American demand of re-taking the Bagram Air Base, all the major regional players —China, Russia, Iran, India and Pakistan — have opposed it at the Moscow Format Talks," Ahmad told Sputnik India.
"An Indian Embassy in Kabul will be in a much better position to coordinate with like-minded actors to see to it that the American proposal doesn't come to fruition," he said.
The veteran diplomat cautioned that "extra-territorial control" of the Bagram base or re-stationing of foreign troops would be "extremely harmful" for Afghanistan's
stability, which would also run against India's long-term interests.
Diplomatic ties would help India develop closer ties with various groups and factions operating in Afghanistan, he said.
"Even now, Afghanistan remains a very divided and polarised society," Ahmad said. "The Taliban are still in the process of establishing full political control over the entire territory."
"Besides having factions among themselves, the Taliban is also grappling with the problem of having external role-players who are trying to create some strategic space for their own interests," he added.
He noted that India has always had a cultural relationship with Afghanistan, underpinned by close affinity towards the Afghan people.
"We have been the biggest regional developmental partner there and our projects are present in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan," Ahmad said.
"We have very important strategic interests in having a stable Afghanistan, be it in terms of counter-terrorism or connectivity among others," he stressed.
The diplomat stressed the embassy would benefit counter-terror cooperation, seen as another crucial metric of ensuring regional stability in South Asia.
"India is concerned about extremist elements in Afghanistan, including the likes of ISIS-Khorasan* or Daesh*" Ahmad said. "These remain a shared regional concern. They are a source of instability and occasional violence."
"Our full-fledged diplomatic presence there will be able to strengthen the elements that are opposed to the IS and therefore help in promoting stability and security within Afghanistan," he added.
Ahmad, who has served as head of multiple foreign missions during service, noted that the technical mission that India has had in Kabul since June 2022 was only meant to ensure coordination for humanitarian assistance, consular and visa issues.
"The embassy will have a senior diplomat as an ambassador who will have contacts at various levels in the Indian government, who will also be very well informed about what is happening within the country and will also be able to advise the Indian government at the highest level as to what our approach should be," Ahmad explained.
He suggested that the new ambassador would be able to help the Afghan people, including women and children, benefit from Indian development projects.
"I am confident that some of the harsh policy measures of the Taliban will be moderated," Ahmad said. "Perhaps as a result of some of the influence that we bring to bear and then at the end of the day."
The commentator argued that Indian aid would not only benefit Afghanistan but be of
strategic importance to India as it seeks to expand connectivity in the region, including the Iranian port of Chabahar.
*under UN sanctions for terrorism