India confirms Taliban-appointed diplomat begins role in New Delhi

India’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that the Taliban-appointed diplomat has assumed duties as chargé d’affaires at Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the appointment followed India’s decision to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul after a visit to India by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

“As you are aware, when the Afghan foreign minister visited India some time ago, we upgraded our technical mission in Kabul,” Jaiswal said at a weekly news briefing. “Subsequently, the head of that mission was elevated to the level of chargé d’affaires. In that context, the Afghan side has now sent a diplomat as its chargé d’affaires, who officially assumed charge on Jan. 9.”

India has not formally recognised the Taliban, which returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, but New Delhi has steadily expanded engagement with them, particularly after a sharp deterioration in Taliban relations with neighbouring Pakistan.

Jaiswal said India was seeking to strengthen multi-dimensional ties with Afghanistan, including cooperation in trade and transit.

India’s comments come amid heightened tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. In recent remarks, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Taliban have maintained close ties with TTP. Taliban have rejected having ties with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Analysts say India’s outreach to the Taliban could reshape regional dynamics.

“India’s new approach could be risky, both for Afghanistan and the wider region,” said Asif Mohaqiq, a university lecturer. “The Taliban need to maintain a balance in relations between India and Pakistan to prevent further regional instability.”

India has hosted several senior Taliban officials in recent months, including Muttaqi, and has expanded diplomatic contacts despite withholding formal recognition.

New Delhi has now also handed operational control of Afghanistan’s embassy in India to Taliban-appointed officials, a move analysts say may reflect India’s efforts to increase its political and security influence in Afghanistan while limiting Pakistan’s role in the country’s future.