New Delhi: In a carefully crafted move, India Friday upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to an “embassy” paving the way for cementing diplomatic ties with the Taliban government as Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said “a wide range of issues of mutual interest, as well as important regional developments”.
However, it did not mention the plan to increase the status of India’s technical mission in Kabul to that of an Embassy, as announced by Jaishankar in his opening remarks during the bilateral meeting.
“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan. Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience.
“To enhance that, I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India,” Jaishankar said.
This falls short of recognising the Taliban government and, hence, there was no flag during the meeting.
The Taliban calls Afghanistan the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ and has changed the original flag to that of its own. India officially recognises the Republic of Afghanistan, whose flag continues to fly atop the Afghan embassy in New Delhi.
While there was no clarification from the Indian side on whether Indian diplomats would be posted to Kabul and Taliban-appointed diplomats would be stationed in New Delhi, Muttaqi held a press conference where he divulged details.
At the Afghan Embassy, Muttaqi addressed a selected group of male-only journalists with the Taliban flag next to him and the painting of the Bamiyan statue behind him, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
The embassy continues to be staffed by the officials appointed by the earlier Afghan regime.
“From the time we came to power in Afghanistan in 2001, bilateral ties between India and us have been built slowly every day. This visit is very significant. We will first start deploying diplomats here and then gradually will reach the level of an ambassador,” Muttaqi said to a query on whether the Taliban government will be appointing an ambassador.
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Views on women
The soft spoken Taliban foreign minister, who had to take special UNSC waiver to travel to India since he remains under sanctions, also spoke on a number of issues.
Asked about women being put under heavy restrictions, Muttaqi rubbished it away saying that it was all part of a “propaganda”.
“Under the Taliban, things have gotten better. Before August 15,2021, there were at least 200-400 deaths every day. Today that has stopped. Have you seen any protests taking place by the people? No. People are happy,” he said.
Regarding the specific issue of women rights, Muttaqi said: “It was all propaganda. We have the shariah there and everybody has rights. Each country has their own traditions and customs.”
He skipped a question on whether women would be allowed to make use of a special education-related visa announced by India.
On Pakistan
The Afghan Foreign Minister said that they want good relations with Pakistan as is in the case of India.
“However, this cannot be one-sided,” he said and denied having any evidence of Pakistani Air Force strikes in Kabul.
“They did carry out strikes close to the border which is wrong. The issue cannot be resolved through military power,” he said, calling for a more humane and talk-based approach.
“Don’t test the patience of the Afghan people. Don’t ‘chedo’ (provoke) them too much. If people do it, they should ask the British once. Then ask the Soviets. Then ask America. Then ask NATO. So that they can give you a little understanding and explain that playing such a game with Afghanistan is not good,” he said in an indirect message to Pakistan.
He made it clear that the Taliban will not allow Afghan soil to be used to harm any country.
Asked by a journalist about Pakistan wanting to exploit Afghan soil to target India, he said, “How can that be? We are there, we fully control Afghanistan”.
Chabahar, Wagah & Bagram airbase
On the issue of Chabahar, the Afghan Foreign Minister said it is an important project for both Afghanistan and India.
He added that he was aware of the fresh American sanctions and both Afghanistan and India should talk to the US on the issue.
Muttaqi also spoke about the Wagah border crossing, saying that this was the shortest route to and from Afghanistan and India for trade. “I would ask for this important trade crossing point to remain open.”
The visiting minister spoke about Trump’s demand for taking over the Bagram air base and said that while Taliban would like various diplomats to come, it would not allow foreign military to be stationed on its soil.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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