jaishankar-reaches-out-to-taliban-lauds-pahalgam-attack-stance

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has, for the first time, engaged in a direct conversation with the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, appreciating Afghanistan’s condemnation of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The telephonic conversation, held on Thursday, also marked a rare high-level contact between New Delhi and Kabul since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

 

During the discussion, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for Afghanistan’s development and cooperation, highlighting the deep historical ties between the two nations.

 

The minister shared the details of the call on social media platform X, writing, “Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.”

 

He further noted, “Underlined our (India’s) traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward.”

 

Also read: Indus Treaty on hold until Pak stops terror, says Jaishankar

 

The exchange comes as the Taliban regime, which New Delhi has not formally recognised, condemned the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.

 

The attack prompted India to undertake Operation Sindoor, followed by a cessation of military strikes after an agreement with Pakistan to halt hostilities.

 

In a subsequent move, Indian special envoy Anand Prakash, Director General of the Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan Division at the Ministry of External Affairs, visited Kabul to hold talks with Muttaqi. Their discussions reportedly focused on enhancing bilateral political ties, trade, and regional stability.

 

This interaction represents the first formal political-level engagement between the two governments since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

 

Prior to this, the last significant diplomatic contact occurred in January, when Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Muttaqi in Dubai.

 

The only other major political dialogue between India and the Taliban occurred in 1999-2000, when then-External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh communicated with Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil in the aftermath of the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking to Kandahar.