Jaishankar’s breakthrough talk with Taliban marks new chapter in India-Afghanistan relations

In a landmark diplomatic move, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephonic discussion with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, representing the first official political contact between India and the Taliban since their 2021 return to power. The conversation comes against the backdrop of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 casualties and was attributed to Pakistan-based militants.

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Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the Taliban’s strong condemnation of the attack and emphasized India’s historical bond with the Afghan people. He also assured continued Indian support for Afghanistan’s development initiatives. Notably, he welcomed the Afghan government’s outright dismissal of false narratives aimed at damaging bilateral ties, likely referring to misleading Pakistani media reports alleging India-Taliban collaboration in a “false flag” operation.

Calling it a positive exchange, Jaishankar stated that both leaders discussed practical ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in areas of trade, connectivity, and political dialogue. The call followed a recent visit to Kabul by Indian envoy Anand Prakash, who met Muttaqi to deliberate on bilateral ties and regional security dynamics.

Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening.

Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and…

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar)

Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening.

Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and…

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 15, 2025

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Though India has not formally recognized the Taliban regime, these diplomatic efforts hint at a pragmatic approach towards engaging Kabul. The conversation also builds on earlier groundwork laid in January, when Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Muttaqi in Dubai. This latest outreach marks the highest level of political engagement between the two nations since the Kandahar hijacking episode in 1999, when India briefly interacted with the then-Taliban regime.