Tue Oct 21 15:39:17 UTC 2025: Headline: India Upgrades Kabul Mission to Embassy, Signals Deeper Engagement with Afghanistan

New Delhi, October 21, 2025 – In a move signaling a deepening of ties, India announced today the upgrading of its technical mission in Kabul to the status of a full-fledged embassy. The announcement, made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), comes just over a week after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and indicated India’s intention to enhance its diplomatic presence in the Afghan capital.

India had previously withdrawn its officials from the Kabul embassy following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. A technical team was deployed in June 2022 to re-establish a diplomatic footprint.

According to the MEA, the restored embassy will augment India’s contributions to Afghanistan’s development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives. The embassy will be headed by a Charge d’affaires.

The decision underscores India’s commitment to a stronger bilateral relationship with Afghanistan across all areas of mutual interest, the MEA stated.

This development follows a six-day visit to India by Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi earlier this month. While India has yet to formally recognize the Taliban government, this visit and the embassy upgrade signal a significant shift in New Delhi’s approach to Kabul.

During his visit, Muttaqi assured India that Afghanistan would not allow any elements to use its territory against New Delhi’s interests. He also indicated that Kabul would reciprocate by sending diplomats to India, marking a further step towards normalizing bilateral relations. Muttaqi also acknowledged the challenge posed by Daesh (ISIS) in the region and asserted Afghanistan is on the frontlines of the struggle.

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