India Wants To Engage More With 'Government Of People Of Afghanistan’

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, announced that the country intends to strengthen its relations with the "government of the people of Afghanistan" by emphasising on humanitarian aid and development cooperation.

The spokesperson of the ministry also announced India's willingness to expand trade, improve the health sector and support sports in Afghanistan.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson announced on Friday, January 17, that India has agreed to expand trade with Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.

Referring to Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's recent meeting with Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, Jaiswal noted that this was the "highest level of engagement" between the two nations.

"We have made it clear that we want to take further steps to provide humanitarian assistance and engage with the government of the Afghan people in the field of development cooperation," he said, referring to "the people of Afghanistan" in his speech, without referring to terms such as "Islamic Emirate" or "Taliban".

"We have a special mission in Kabul. We want to continue the work that we have there (Afghanistan) in order to strengthen the long-term relationship with the Afghan people," he added.

The spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs emphasised that his country is trying to strengthen its long-standing relations with the people of Afghanistan. Jaiswal also announced the expansion of India's relations with Afghanistan in the field of sports, especially cricket.

India has so far provided numerous humanitarian aids to Afghanistan, including the delivery of wheat, medicine, and vaccines, and according to the country's Ministry of External Affairs, it intends to continue this support.

Also, expanding trade and development cooperation through Chabahar port is part of the country's plans to strengthen relations with Afghanistan.