India to Fully Reopen Embassy in Kabul

DID Press: Following the official visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi and new agreements between the Taliban government and India, the Indian government announced that it is in the final stages of reviewing plans to fully restore its diplomatic presence in Kabul — a move that could open a new chapter in political and strategic relations between the two countries.

The spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday, November 8, that New Delhi is assessing mechanisms to strengthen the operations and capacity of its embassy in Kabul.

Randhir Jaiswal, the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a recent press briefing: “Our technical mission in Kabul has been upgraded to the level of an embassy, and we are currently evaluating its functions, responsibilities, staffing levels, and operational capacity. This process will be implemented at the appropriate time.”

Relations between India and the Taliban government have gradually improved in recent months. Political analysts believe that the full reopening of India’s embassy could enhance bilateral ties and increase New Delhi’s economic role in Afghanistan. However, they warn that these relations must be pursued within a framework of regional balance and without undermining Kabul’s relations with other countries.

During the official visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, to India, he met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. These meetings marked a turning point in bilateral relations.

During the trip, both sides reached agreements on several issues, including:

Upgrading India’s technical office in Kabul to a full embassy;

Launching new infrastructure projects with Indian financial and technical support;

Resuming humanitarian and educational assistance;

Holding joint discussions on regional security and counterterrorism.

Muttaqi’s visit took place with authorization from the UN Security Council and signaled a shift in India’s approach toward the Taliban government — a shift aimed at safeguarding New Delhi’s strategic interests amid the rapidly changing dynamics of South Asia.