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Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day visit to India marks the first high-level interaction between New Delhi and the Taliban government since 2021. The visit reflects India’s cautious yet pragmatic attempt to re-engage diplomatically with Kabul amid evolving regional dynamics.

Historical Foundations of India–Afghanistan Relations

The relationship between India and Afghanistan is rooted in civilisational, cultural, and strategic linkages that predate modern statehood.

• Civilisational Bonds: The ancient Kabul–Gandhara–Taxila corridor served as a conduit for trade and Buddhist exchanges, shaping a shared heritage.
• Political Affinity: After 1947, Afghanistan stood apart by opposing Pakistan’s admission to the UN, signalling early alignment with India.
• Developmental Partnership: Since 2001, India has invested over $3 billion in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, building major projects like the Salma Dam, Afghan Parliament, and the Zaranj–Delaram Highway, solidifying India’s goodwill.
• Humanitarian Outreach: Even after the Taliban takeover in 2021, India sustained “people-centric engagement” by supplying 50,000 tonnes of wheat, medicines, vaccines, and scholarships — reflecting its long-term commitment to the Afghan people.

India’s Strategic Calculus Behind Engagement

India’s current approach combines realism and restraint, shaped by five key strategic considerations:

a. Regional Stability and Connectivity

• Afghanistan remains crucial to India’s access to Central Asian energy markets.
• Projects like Chabahar Port and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) rely on Afghan stability for viability.

b. Countering Pakistan and China

• Taliban-led Afghanistan has seen strained ties with Pakistan while engaging with China’s BRI framework.
• India’s outreach seeks to dilute Pakistan’s strategic depth and limit China’s westward expansion through CPEC.

c. Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation

• Groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISKP) operate from Afghan soil.
• Diplomatic engagement allows for intelligence sharing, counterterror coordination, and crisis management.

d. Preventing Radicalisation Spillover

• Instability in Afghanistan could intensify cross-border militancy, narcotics trade, and extremist radicalisation, impacting India’s internal security.

e. Humanitarian and Soft-Power Diplomacy

• India’s assistance in education, health, and food security continues to build moral legitimacy and strengthen its image as a responsible regional power.

Policy Dilemmas and Diplomatic Constraints

Despite its engagement, India faces significant diplomatic challenges:

• Non-Recognition vs. Realpolitik: India has not formally recognised the Taliban regime but follows a de facto engagement policy to protect its strategic interests.
• Symbolic Diplomacy: Meetings in Dubai (2024) and New Delhi (2025) have carefully excluded Taliban flags and formal protocol to maintain a balance between engagement and legitimacy.
• Connectivity Challenges: The withdrawal of the Chabahar sanctions waiver constrains India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• External Pressures: The US–Pakistan rapprochement, Russia–China engagement with Kabul, and Iran’s growing influence complicate India’s regional calculus.
• Human Rights Concerns: India must balance pragmatic engagement with its principled support for inclusive governance, women’s rights, and democratic values in Afghanistan.

Regional Implications of the Muttaqi Visit

Way Forward

• Adopt a Dual-Track Policy: Continue humanitarian and developmental assistance while maintaining calibrated diplomatic engagement with the Taliban.
• Enhance Regional Coordination: Work through Moscow Format, SCO, and Heart of Asia platforms alongside Russia, Iran, and Central Asian partners.
• Revive Chabahar Connectivity: Explore limited sanctions relief through multilateral mechanisms to ensure sustained India–Afghanistan trade access.
• Institutionalise Counterterror Cooperation: Establish an India–Afghanistan Security Contact Group to share intelligence and monitor cross-border threats.
• Invest in Human Capital: Expand scholarships, online education, and women-focused programmes to strengthen long-term societal goodwill.

Conclusion

Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit marks a diplomatic turning point — signalling India’s shift from cautious observation to strategic pragmatism in its Afghan policy. Balancing values with realism, New Delhi aims to secure its geopolitical and economic interests while upholding humanitarian principles.

India’s nuanced engagement — without formal recognition — positions it as a potential stabilising anchor in South–Central Asia, where constructive diplomacy rather than confrontation remains the key to regional peace and security.