MEA official holds meet with Afghan minister in Kabul

A top-level Indian delegation held a meeting with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday in Kabul. This came as India is likely to restart its stalled projects and also resume issuance of visas to Afghans.

The Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary Anand Prakash, who is head of the Pakistan, Afghanistan & Iran division in the Ministry of External Affairs, held a meeting with Muttaqi and his team.

India has recently restarted its engagements with the Taliban regime, as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a high-level meeting with Muttaqi in January, marking the first formal interaction with the Taliban since the regime’s takeover of the country in August 2021.

“Prakash said his country values its relations with Afghanistan and hopes to further expand ties in various areas. He mentioned that India will continue its cooperation with Afghanistan and wishes to invest in some infrastructure projects, as well as resume work on some projects that have been stalled for some time,” said a statement issued by Afghanistan after the meeting.

Both the groups discussed bilateral political relations between the two countries, trade, transit and recent regional political developments, it said.

"Muttaqi emphasised on the expansion of diplomatic and economic relations between Afghanistan and India and stated that there were good opportunities for investment in Afghanistan,” it said.

Muttaqi also said there should be facilitation in the movement of people between Afghanistan and India, and that the issuance of visas, especially for businessmen, patients and students, should return to normal, the statement added.

“In conclusion, both sides emphasised expanding relations, facilitating the exchange of delegations, easing visa issuance and strengthening bilateral cooperation,” it said.