India has officially upgraded its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan from a technical mission to a full embassy, signalling a deeper commitment to ties with Kabul. The move came after Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi visited New Delhi in October and has been welcomed by Indian officials as a step toward expanding duties and staff at the embassy.
During a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal explained that the upgrade follows a series of exchanges between the two countries. “We’ve had a recent visit from the Afghan Foreign Minister and several talks on development cooperation,” he said. “Now we’re looking at how the new embassy can better serve its functions and grow its team.”
The announcement comes amid growing speculation that the Taliban might appoint a diplomat in India. Jaiswal clarified that India’s own upgrade is a separate matter and that any new Taliban representation would be announced in due course.
In related news, India stepped in to help families affected by a 6.3‑meter earthquake that hit northern Afghan provinces of Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan. More than 20 people were killed and hundreds injured. India dispatched food aid to the disaster zones earlier this week, with the Ministry of External Affairs tweeting a photo of food parcels arriving in Kabul.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi to share condolences and confirmed that Indian relief supplies—including medicine—would soon reach those impacted by the quake. “We are reinforcing people‑to‑people contacts and discussing our bilateral relationship,” Jaishankar posted on X.
The earlier decision to convert the technical mission to an embassy was announced during Muttaqi’s visit, and a full statement from the MEA stated that the new embassy will play a larger role in Afghanistan’s development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity‑building initiatives. India’s statement underlines its resolve to deepen engagement with Afghan society and support the country’s needs across all areas of interest.
Source: ianslive
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