Taliban officials affirm India seeks stronger ties with Afghanistan
India’s joint secretary for the Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran (PAI) division, JP Singh, has held a diplomatic exchange with Afghanistan’s newly appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi , representing the Taliban-led administration. The meeting took place in Kabul and signifies India’s proactive approach towards engaging with the Taliban-led government, despite not extending official recognition to the regime. The discussions focused on India’s aspirations to bolster bilateral relations and expand trade cooperation with Afghanistan. Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan ministry, highlighted the importance of economic collaboration, transit facilitation, and security cooperation to address challenges such as the threat posed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and endemic corruption within Afghanistan’s governance structures. India reiterated its commitment to enhancing trade ties, particularly leveraging the strategic Chaba...