The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has expressed its strong approval of India’s recent decision to elevate its technical mission in Kabul to a fully-fledged embassy. In an official statement to The Hindu, Suhail Shaheen, who serves as Kabul’s Ambassador to Qatar and a prominent spokesperson for the Taliban administration, highlighted that this strategic move by India would significantly contribute to fostering “regional peace.”
Shaheen articulated his perspective, stating, “This is a rightful and essential step towards normalizing bilateral relations, building mutual trust, boosting trade, and enhancing cooperation, all of which are vital for playing a constructive role in regional peace. I warmly welcome this development and anticipate the growth of strong bilateral relations between Afghanistan and India.” He noted his dual role as Spokesman for international media and Ambassador to Qatar for the Taliban administration.
For further context, readers might be interested in understanding the evolving dynamics of India-Taliban relations, as explored in a related analysis.
Shaheen reiterated the significance of this diplomatic move, emphasizing it as “an important and much-needed decision for strengthening relations between the two countries across various sectors.”
Following discussions during the recent visit of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, India officially re-established diplomatic ties with Kabul on October 21, 2025. This involved immediately upgrading the Indian Technical Mission to a full embassy. Official sources indicated that this upgrade paves the way for India to appoint a Chargé d’affaires (CDA) to lead the Indian embassy in Kabul.
A video analysis further explores the complexities of India-Afghanistan ties and the reasons behind India’s recent engagement with the Taliban.
In its official announcement confirming the re-establishment of formal diplomatic contact with the Taliban-administered Afghanistan, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the newly upgraded Embassy in Kabul would significantly enhance India’s contributions to Afghanistan’s holistic development. This includes bolstering humanitarian aid and capacity-building efforts, all aligned with the expressed priorities and aspirations of Afghan society.
India had previously closed its Kabul embassy and evacuated its staff in August 2021, amidst a deteriorating law and order situation following the Taliban’s overthrow of President Ashraf Ghani’s government. Indian consulates in Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Kandahar, and Herat were also shuttered as the conflict escalated in early 2021. A technical team was subsequently dispatched to Kabul on June 23, 2022, specifically to manage the mission and provide crucial humanitarian and consular support.