India had withdrawn its officials from its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
India and Afghanistan marked a new chapter in diplomatic ties as New Delhi upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy. This comes over a week-and-a-half after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during his meeting with Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi that India will upgrade its diplomatic presence in Kabul. The upgradation is being seen as part of broader efforts to deepen its bilateral engagement with Kabul.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian embassy in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives.
“In keeping with the decision announced during the recent visit of the Afghan foreign minister to India, the government is restoring the status of the technical mission of India in Kabul to that of the Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect,” it said in a statement. The MEA said the decision underscores India’s resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Afghan side in “all spheres of mutual interest”.
“The Embassy of India in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives, in keeping with the priorities and aspirations of Afghan society,” it said in a statement.