India quietly reopens its embassy in Kabul

India has reopened its embassy in Kabul following the arrival of a “technical team” in Afghanistan’s capital.

The Indian embassy in Kabul was shut down almost 10 months ago in the wake of the Taliban’s quick takeover of Afghanistan.

New Delhi said the team was sent to the Indian embassy to monitor the delivery of humanitarian assistance to needy Afghan households.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said: “For the effective delivery of humanitarian aid and in continuation of our engagement with the Afghan people, an Indian technical team has reached Kabul and has been deployed in our Embassy there.”

Under the Ghani and Karzai administrations, India had four consulates and the Kabul embassy operating in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, India sent 27 tonnes of emergency relief assistance for the quake-hit people in southeastern Afghanistan.

Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, European Union and four Central Asian states have already reopened their embassies in Kabul.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged India to continue providing humanitarian aid to Afghans.