India Engages With Taliban To Support Afghan People, Says Foreign Minister

India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has confirmed that New Delhi is engaging with the Taliban to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday, 20 March, Jaishankar stated that the Taliban currently governs Afghanistan and India is choosing to act rather than observe. “To help the Afghan people, we obviously engage with whoever is in control,” he said.

Responding to a question about dealing with the Taliban, Jaishankar explained that India has taken a practical approach based on humanitarian considerations. He highlighted two possible strategies: to observe the situation passively or to actively engage with those in power to offer support. He made it clear that India has chosen the latter.

“We would like to keep the relationship with the Afghan people going, and that’s really what is driving us,” Jaishankar said.

He noted that since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has experienced a severe food crisis. In response, India has sent 500,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. He also referred to previous support provided by India, including COVID-19 vaccine supplies and development aid to the former Afghan government.

Jaishankar reaffirmed that India has consistently maintained contact with Afghanistan’s leadership across different regimes, based on humanitarian needs.

His comments follow a series of recent developments, including a meeting earlier this year between India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Vikram Misri, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in the United Arab Emirates. During that meeting, Misri pledged support for Afghanistan’s health sector and returning refugees.

An Indian delegation also visited Kabul recently, where they met with senior Taliban officials, including the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Reports have also emerged suggesting that India is considering allowing a Taliban representative to take charge of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, further indicating a shift towards pragmatic engagement.