India monitoring situation in Afghanistan; held discussions with Taliban regime: New Delhi at UNSC

India discusses bilateral relations with Taliban, emphasizing people-to-people ties as foundation of engagement, focusing on humanitarian assistance and development projects.

India told the United Nations (UN) Security Council that it has discussed with the Taliban regime various issues pertaining to bilateral relations and the "special" people-to-people ties has been the "foundation" of Delhi's present day engagement with the country.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said on Monday (March 10, 2025) at the UN Security meeting on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) that in the beginning of this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai.

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“The two sides discussed various issues pertaining to bilateral relations as well as regional developments. The Afghan side appreciated and thanked Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan," Mr. Harish said in the Council.

"It was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programmes,” he said. The January meeting between Mr. Misri and Mr. Muttaqi was the highest-level contact so far between Delhi and the Taliban since the regime took over Kabul in 2021.

Mr. Harish underscored that India and Afghanistan share a relationship which has spanned centuries and as its contiguous neighbour, India and Afghanistan share a special people to people relationship which has been the “foundation of our present day engagement with the country.” Mr. Harish said India is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and has been actively engaged in regional and international efforts to maintain stability and peace in the country.

“Our broad approach remains to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and create an international consensus under the UN framework to resolve various issues between the de-facto authorities in Afghanistan and the international community,” the Indian envoy said.