Jaishankar Makes Historic Call to Taliban Foreign Minister
In a landmark diplomatic move, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held the first publicly acknowledged phone conversation with Taliban's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Discussions included bilateral ties, humanitarian aid, and regional security. Jaishankar also appreciated Muttaqi's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack. This direct engagement signals a significant evolution in India's approach towards Afghanistan, reflecting adaptive diplomatic strategies within the complex regional geopolitical dynamics.
Unpacked:
India previously refused formal engagement with the Taliban, supporting opposition groups and criticizing Taliban policies. This public phone conversation marks a significant policy shift toward open, pragmatic engagement, reflecting India's need to protect its interests and adapt to the changing Afghan political landscape since the Taliban's 2021 return to power.
After the Taliban takeover in August 2021, India cautiously began engaging with Taliban officials, holding meetings in Doha and Kabul, and sending a technical team to its embassy in Kabul for limited diplomatic functions. However, direct, openly acknowledged high-level contact, like this phone call, was previously avoided.
India is primarily concerned about Afghanistan being used as a base for anti-India terrorist groups, the safety of Indian citizens and investments in Afghanistan, regional security, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches the Afghan people without supporting extremist elements.
Countries like Russia and China have established formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban, while most Western countries maintain limited or no official relations. Some regional states engage pragmatically to secure their interests, but widespread international recognition of the Taliban government remains limited.