Afghan Soil Won’t Be Used Against Any Country, Taliban Assures India In Key Delhi Meet
In the first high-level engagement since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday gave a crucial assurance to India that Afghan soil will not be used against any country. The commitment was made during a landmark meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, where India announced it would upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy.
The discussions, held at Hyderabad House, focused on regional security, cross-border terrorism, trade, and India’s development partnership with Afghanistan. “We had a detailed discussion on security cooperation. We will not allow Afghan territory to be used against any country,” Muttaqi stated, confirming that both sides would remain in contact on the issue.Sending a veiled but clear message to Pakistan, Jaishankar highlighted the “shared threat of cross-border terrorism that both our nations face.”
He called for coordinated efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms, while also appreciating Afghanistan’s sensitivity to India’s security concerns. In a significant diplomatic step, Jaishankar announced, “I am pleased to announce the upgrading of India’s technical mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India.”In a direct and stern warning to Islamabad, Muttaqi cautioned the Pakistan government against cross-border actions in Afghanistan. “Issues cannot be solved through this approach. We condemn any cross-border action of Pakistan in Afghanistan. The Afghan people’s patience and courage should not be challenged,” he said, invoking the historical lessons learned by the British, Soviets, and Americans.
Underscoring India’s continued commitment to the Afghan people, Jaishankar unveiled a fresh package of humanitarian aid, including six new development projects, 20 ambulances, MRI and CT scan machines, and cancer medicines. He symbolically handed over five ambulances to Muttaqi during the meeting. While India has not formally recognized the Taliban government, today’s talks signal a major strategic recalibration, balancing New Delhi’s security interests with its long-standing development role in the region.
