NEW DELHI: As India and the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan further intensify their pragmatic engagement focused on trade, humanitarian aid, and regional security, the Taliban will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Victory Day in the Afghanistan embassy here on Monday, next week. Victory Day is observed annually by the Taliban on August 15 to commemorate the group’s return to Kabul in 2021, following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces.The invitation for the event has been extended by Afghanistan charge d’affaires Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor and carries the emblem of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. According to sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the event is not just endorsed by the Indian side but is will also see participation by senior Indian officials.India doesn’t officially recognise the Islamic Emirate, maintaining its position on that issue is in consonance with the international community, although it has allowed the Taliban to take control of the Afghan embassy. However, its position is also marked by pragmatic engagement with Taliban, leveraging its historic goodwill and development presence to protect its security and regional interests. These efforts have been further aided by the dramatic shift in the Taliban’s ties with Pakistan.India and Afghanistan continue to back each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with India solidly standing by Kabul in the latter’s border conflict with Pakistan. Much to Pakistan’s chagrin, the Taliban too backed India’s sovereignty over J&K in a joint statement with India last year by endorsing a mention of the union territory as located in India, while condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
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While restoring its own embassy in Kabul last year, India had agreed to the appointment of Taliban diplomats here, allowing them to work out of the embassy even in the absence of a formal recognition for the Taliban regime. The development followed a landmark visit by Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India that further cemented the relationship.India’s historical and civilizational ties with Afghanistan, along with the development partnership, has witnessed more than 500 projects spread across each of the 34 provinces of the country in critical areas of power, water supply, road connectivity, healthcare, education, agriculture and capacity building.
