New Delhi

The conversation comes days after the Taliban administration, that India is yet to officially recognise, condemned the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam that left 26 innocents dead and dozens injured

Marking the first minister-level outreach to the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday (May 15, 2025) held a telephone conversation with the “Acting Afghan Foreign Minister” Amir Khan Muttaqi. The conversation came days after the Taliban administration, that India is yet to officially recognise, condemned the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam of April 22 that left 26 innocents dead and dozens injured.

“Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,” said Mr. Jaishankar in a message that was posted on ‘X’. Mr. Muttaqi had hosted senior Indian diplomat Anand Prakash in Kabul on April 27 in the backdrop of growing India-Pakistan hostilities following the attack in Pahalgam.

Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening.

Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and…

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 15, 2025

The Taliban administration and India have been intensifying ties since the outfit first came to power in Kabul on August 16, 2021, though India has not yet fully normalised relations with the outfit. India’s official policy has focused on the wellbeing of the Afghan people and in that direction, the Government of India has allowed the Taliban to gradually take charge of the Afghan missions in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad to cater to the consular requirements of Afghan students, visitors and businesspersons.

“Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,” said Mr. Jaishankar. Rebutting reports in Pakistan media that attempted to link the Taliban with the developments in Kashmir, Mr. Jaishankar further said, “Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports.”

Hafiz Zia Ahmed, director of public communication at the Taliban’s “Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, made a detailed post on ‘X’ announcing that Mr. Muttaqi asked Mr. Jaishankar to help in securing more Indian visas for Afghan patients and visitors. He also urged the Government of India to help in freeing Afghan prisoners in Indian jails.

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Despite the lack of formal ties, India has been engaging the Taliban through senior diplomats, while highlighting the need for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan population. Senior Indian diplomat J. P. Singh travelled to Kabul in March 2024 when he met with Mr. Muttaqi. In November 2024, Mr. Singh travelled to Afghanistan again to meet acting defence minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid in Kabul. In the backdrop of the attack in Pahalgam, India has stopped all trade and import of goods that have origin in Pakistan and there were concerns that the move could also impact imports from Afghanistan. It is understood that the growing conversation between India and Taliban will contribute to smoothening the business and humanitarian channels that exist between India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. An official source described the conversation between Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Muttaqi as a move that has come at an “opportune moment” considering the overall regional situation.