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Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said the country views India as a close friend, highlighting that New Delhi was the first responder during the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. Speaking on bilateral ties, he emphasized that Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used to threaten or act against other nations.
Muttaqi said Kabul is keen on building relations with India based on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people connections. He announced that the Afghan government is ready to create a consultative mechanism for mutual understanding.
In a significant invitation to Indian businesses, Muttaqi encouraged Indian companies to explore investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
Meanwhile, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, said on Friday that India will reopen its embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul that was shut four years ago.
“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” Jaishankar told Muttaqi as he delivered his opening remarks ahead of the meeting.
“Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience,” he further added, highlighting that India’s “technical mission” in Kabul was being upgraded to an embassy.
Muttaqi is on a six-day visit to India aiming to boost ties with New Delhi and his trip was made possible after the UN Security Council Committee temporarily lifted a travel ban on him to allow diplomatic engagements abroad.
He is among Afghan Taliban members who are under UN sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze but temporary exemptions are sometimes granted for diplomacy.
About a dozen countries including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey have embassies operating in Kabul, although Russia is the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban administration.
