Relationship between India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Why in the News?

Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced the closure of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Delhi.

The Embassy of Afghanistan has cited some reasons for the move that includes:

• Lack of cooperation from the Government of India 
• Lack of resources to operate any further

Is this a turning point for Afghanistan-India relations?

1. The embassy represented the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in India.
2. But with the takeover of Afghanistan through a military campaign by Taliban, who were not recognised by India as de facto rulers, the embassy stopped representing an active state (“stateless mission”) since August 2021.
3. Instead, it worked as a coordinating agency since then, such as performing a ceremonial or a symbolic role and helping out Afghan citizens among others.
4. The ambassador of the previous regime of President Ashraf Ghani, Farid Mamundzay, left India before 3 months itself.
5. However, the two consulates of Afghanistan in Hyderabad and Mumbai have announced to continue functioning as part of a “solemn commitment” towards thousands of Afghan students, refugees and traders.

Other ways of engagement are on the move:

1. India has a “technical team” in Kabul to provides visas to Afghan traders and travellers to India. 
2. Two weekly flights that carry Afghan citizens and items to India, as well as humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people by India, are being operational.
3. Indian trade goods with Afghanistan are happening through other countries like Iran and the UAE.

However, these are informal nature of interactions because formal diplomatic ties are unable to take off as India refuses to recognise Taliban citing human rights abuses inflicted by it.

Possibility of establishing formal ties:

1. Indian diplomats have engaged with the Taliban immediately after the takeover of Kabul in 2021, though India has not recognised Taliban formally.
2. Indian diplomats have met Taliban’s representatives under many multilateral initiatives such as

• The recent Moscow format dialogue in which India sent a representative to Kazan, Russia to engage with the Taliban.

3. Increasing pressure on India to reconsider its position on the Taliban:
   1. It has gained international recognition from rival powers like China.
   2. Countries such as Iran, Pakistan, the UAE, Russia and Qatar are warming ties with the Taliban.
   3. Taliban is urging India to support its economic revitalisation through projects like electricity generation and road building works.