Afghanistan: India Sends Officials to Kabul for talks with the Taliban
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an announcement on Wednesday said the team of officials led by J.P. Singh, Joint Secretary of the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division in the Ministry, will hold talks with the Taliban representatives regarding the humanitarian requirements on the ground.
“During the visit, the team will meet representatives of the international organizations involved in the distribution of the humanitarian assistance. In addition, the team is expected to visit various places where Indian programs/projects are being implemented,” the official announcement said.
India shut down its embassy in Kabul as well as consulates in cities such as Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif last year as the Taliban took overpower.
India has no diplomatic ties with Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in August last year, but its diplomats have met Taliban representatives in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where they have an office.
There was no immediate comment by the Taliban on the Indian officials’ visit.
India has dispatched 20,000 metric tons of wheat, 13 tons of medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and winter clothing to Afghanistan to meet shortages there, Arindam Bagchi, the ministry spokesman, said in the statement.
The MEA said that “more food grains and medical shipments would be sent to Afghanistan in the coming months. India has historical and civilizational ties with the Afghan people, and these longstanding linkages will continue to guide our approach.”
(Vinayak)
