Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – India has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the people of Afghanistan while engaging with the Taliban-led government on bilateral and regional issues, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, told the UN Security Council on Monday. Highlighting India’s historic ties with Afghanistan, Harish emphasized that the “special” people-to-people relationship remains the foundation of New Delhi’s engagement with Kabul.
Harish revealed that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai earlier this year, marking the highest-level contact between India and the Taliban since the group’s takeover in 2021. During the meeting, the Afghan side expressed gratitude for India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance and discussed future development projects.
“India is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and remains committed to providing humanitarian aid while fostering international consensus under the UN framework,” Harish said. Since August 2021, India has delivered 27 tonnes of relief materials, 50,000 tonnes of wheat, and over 300 tonnes of medicines to Afghanistan. Additionally, India has partnered with UN agencies to support Afghan women and children, including supplying hygiene kits and medical aid.
Harish also underscored India’s readiness to respond to Afghanistan’s needs, including strengthening sports cooperation, particularly cricket, and promoting the use of Chabahar port for trade and humanitarian aid. However, he reiterated India’s security concerns, which the Taliban acknowledged during the Dubai meeting.
UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva urged the Taliban to demonstrate their commitment to international obligations, warning that selective adherence undermines Afghanistan’s reintegration into the global community. She also highlighted the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, raising questions about the Taliban’s ability to prevent the country from becoming a threat to its neighbors.
As India continues its humanitarian and development efforts, Harish stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation to achieve a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan.
