New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) India today announced the upgradation of its technical mission in Kabul to that of a full-fledged embassy with immediate effect.
A decision to this effect was announced during the October 10 meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi.
A statement said that the upgradation of the Indian mission to that of Embassy decision “underscores India’s resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Afghan side in all spheres of mutual interest”.
It said the Embassy of India in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives, in keeping with the priorities and aspirations of Afghan society.
During the landmark meeting between visiting Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi and EAM Jaishankar in New Delhi, the latter announced New Delhi’s decision to upgrade the technical mission to Embassy status.
India had evacuated its staff from the Indian Embassy in Kabul and the other consulates following the Taliban takeover on August 15, 2021. Later, as matters settled, India put in a “technical mission” in Kabul, which has today been upgraded to full embassy status.
Relations between Afghanistan, under the Taliban, and India have warmed up, with New Delhi providing humanitarian aid, in the form of food grain, medical equipment and medicines, tents, and other stuff, including helping out during an earthquake that hit Kunar province in September. India has also offered to build houses for the thousands of Afghan refugees who have been forcibly pushed out of Pakistan.
Kabul, in turn, has assured India that Afghan territory will never be allowed to be used for any terrorist activities against India, and also said that there are no LeT or JeM camps anymore in their country. The Afghan Taliban have also urged India to get into the mining sector in their country, and help build more infrastructure.
