NEW DELHI: In another expression of solidarity with Afghanistan, India participated in the fifth anniversary of the Taliban Victory Day that marks the return of Taliban to Kabul in August 2021, following the return of US-led forces.MEA joint secretary Anand Prakash – who handles the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) – represented India at the event held at the Afghan embassy. Prakash was accompanied by director (PAI) Sneha Dubey.India continues to maintain senior official-level engagement with the Taliban and as it looks to further ramp up its development presence there, a high-level visit to Kabul from India a little further down the line is also not ruled out. Standing next to the flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Taliban’s name for the country, charge d’affaires Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor addressed a select gathering of diplomats, including ambassadors from neighbouring countries like Iran and Uzbekistan, and other dignitaries.Noor said in his remarks that stronger political trust, economic partnership, and continued engagement between Afghanistan and India will not only benefit both countries, but will also make an important contribution to regional stability, connectivity, and shared prosperity.The top Taliban diplomat here thanked MEA and minister S Jaishankar for their help in protecting and respecting the international rights of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”We also appreciate their emphasis at international forums on the need to ensure Afghanistan’s legitimate international rights. We hope that greater attention and practical efforts will be made in this regard,” he said.Chinese and Russian diplomats attended the reception.India’s position on recognition of the regime in Kabul remains in consonance with that of the international community but govt allowed Taliban diplomats to take control of the embassy last year, while upgrading its own mission in Kabul. In the absence of official recognition, the main embassy flagpole still flies the flag of the previous Islamic Republic of Afghanistan but the Taliban are allowed to hold events in the embassy, like the news conference by foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last year, under their own flag.
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Highlighting high-level visits from Afghanistan to India in the past, Noor said that in recent years relations between the two have witnessed progress, guided by “mutual respect, political engagement, and shared interests”. According to him, Afghanistan’s geography should not be a field for negative competition, but a bridge for cooperation and shared prosperity. “…Afghanistan has continued efforts to expand regional economic and transit cooperation, facilitate trade, and strengthen relations...” he added.
