Indian officials meet Taliban in Kabul in first visit since U.S. exit

Record ID: 1675253

  • Title: Indian officials meet Taliban in Kabul in first visit since U.S. exit
  • Date: 2nd June 2022
  • Summary: CHAMAN, PAKISTAN (FILE-AUGUST 12, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PAKISTANI POLICEMEN GUARDING CHAMAN CROSSING AS HUNDREDS OF AFGHANS WANTING TO CROSS INTO AFGHANISTAN STANDING BEHIND BARBED WIRE FENCE AFGHANS BEHIND CLOSED GATE PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND CLOSED GATE NEXT TO SIGN READING (Urdu): "AFGHANISTAN" (ARROW POINTING AHEAD) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE NEAR BORDER CROSSING PELTING STONES, TEAR GAS SMOKE RISING IN SEVERAL PLACES CROWD DISPERSING MEN CARRYING BODY OF PERSON IN SHEET
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2022 16:23
  • Keywords: Afghanistan India Kabul New Delhi Taliban US United Nations foreign Ministry humanitarian assistance wheat
  • Location: ATTARI, PUNJAB/NEW DELHI, INDIA/ CHAMAN, PAKISTAN
  • City: ATTARI, PUNJAB/NEW DELHI, INDIA/ CHAMAN, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002GEQMSLR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A team of Indian officials met the acting Taliban foreign minister of Afghanistan on Thursday (May 02) to discuss bilateral ties and humanitarian aid, in what was the first such visit to Kabul since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal last year.
    Poverty and hunger have rocketed in Afghanistan since the Islamist militants took power after the United States pulled out, and India has sent food grains and other aid.
    Indian foreign ministry delegation led by senior official J.P. Singh met with The Taliban administration's acting foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.
    The meeting focused on India-Afghan diplomatic relations, bilateral trade and humanitarian aid.
    Asked if New Delhi now officially recognized the Taliban administration, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters they were "reading far too much into the visit."
    Asked whether India is looking to increase oil imports from Russia, Bagchi told reporters that "Our approach to oil purchase will be guided by our energy security requirements".
    The ministry earlier said in a statement the officials would oversee the delivery of humanitarian assistance and visit areas targeted by Indian-backed programs or projects.
    India has donated about 20,000 tonnes of wheat, 13 tonnes of medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and items of winter clothing, with more medicine and food grains on the way, it said.
    India pulled its officials out of Afghanistan last August and closed its embassy, although it is keen to retain ties with the country where its regional rival Pakistan wields considerable influence.
    Bagchi declined to say when the embassy might be reopened, except to say that local staff had continued to function and ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of its premises there.
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