In a 1st, Jaishankar speaks with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi
In a historic move, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has spoken with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, marking the first-ever ministerial-level outreach to the Afghan Taliban regime. This significant development comes at a time when India is yet to officially recognize the Taliban regime, which took power in Afghanistan in August last year.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Muttaqi took place on Wednesday, and during their conversation, the External Affairs Minister appreciated Muttaqi’s condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in which three civilians were killed. The attack was carried out by militants from the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group, which is believed to be backed by Pakistan.
Muttaqi, on the other hand, criticized Pakistan’s attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan. He accused Pakistan of trying to undermine the relations between the two countries and of supporting terrorist groups that target India.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Muttaqi is significant not only because it marks the first-ever ministerial-level outreach between the two countries but also because it highlights India’s efforts to engage with the Afghan Taliban regime despite the country’s reservations about the group’s human rights record and ties to terrorist organizations.
India has been cautious in its approach towards the Taliban regime, and while it has been providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, it has not officially recognized the regime. The Indian government has also been critical of the Taliban’s human rights record, particularly with regard to the treatment of women and minorities.
Despite these reservations, India believes that engaging with the Taliban regime is necessary to ensure the stability of the region and to protect its interests. The country has been working to strengthen its ties with Afghanistan, and it has been providing economic and humanitarian assistance to the country.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Muttaqi is also significant because it comes at a time when the situation in Afghanistan is precarious. The country is facing a severe economic crisis, and the Taliban regime is struggling to provide basic services to its citizens. The regime is also facing opposition from various groups, including the Islamic State (IS), which has been carrying out attacks in the country.
In recent months, there have been several attacks in Afghanistan, including a suicide bombing in Kabul that killed over 100 people. The attacks have been carried out by various groups, including the IS and the Taliban, and they have highlighted the fragile security situation in the country.
Despite the challenges facing Afghanistan, India believes that engaging with the country is essential to ensure its stability and security. The country has been working to strengthen its ties with Afghanistan, and it has been providing economic and humanitarian assistance to the country.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Muttaqi is a significant step forward in India’s efforts to engage with Afghanistan, and it highlights the country’s commitment to strengthening its ties with the country. The meeting also underscores India’s willingness to engage with the Afghan Taliban regime despite its reservations about the group’s human rights record and ties to terrorist organizations.
In conclusion, the meeting between Jaishankar and Muttaqi is a historic development that marks the first-ever ministerial-level outreach between India and the Afghan Taliban regime. The meeting highlights India’s efforts to engage with Afghanistan despite its reservations about the Taliban’s human rights record and ties to terrorist organizations. It also underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its ties with Afghanistan and to ensuring the stability and security of the region.
