Sawt Falasteen - India to upgrade Afghan mission to full embassy

"I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India's Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India," Jaishankar told Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Russia is the only country to officially recognise the Afghan Taliban government since they seized control of the country in August 2021.

UN-sanctioned Amir Khan Muttaqi's trip to India -- cleared after the Security Council granted him a travel waiver -- is expected to be closely watched by neighbouring Pakistan, as New Delhi deepens its engagement with the Taliban government.

Muttaqi's visit is the first visit by a top Taliban leader to India since they returned to power.

"We have a common commitment towards growth and prosperity," Jaishankar said, in comments broadcast at the opening of the meeting.

"However, these are endangered by the shared threat of cross-border terrorism that both our nations face."

India had a large embassy in Kabul until the Taliban takeover, when they withdraw most diplomats and downgraded the facility to a technical mission.

The Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law may appear an unlikely match for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government, but India has sought to seize the opening.

Diplomatic dynamics in South Asia are driven by long-running distrust between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi seeking to exploit divisions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan fought a brief but deadly clash in May, their worst confrontation in decades.

Jaishankar praised Kabul's "solidarity with us in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack", in which 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.

New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing the assault, a charge Islamabad denies.

"We appreciate your sensitivity towards India's security concerns," Jaishankar added.

Muttaqi in reply said that "Afghanistan looks at India as a close friend", citing aid that India sent following a deadly earthquake in September.

"We will not allow any group to threaten anyone else or use the territory of Afghanistan against others", he added.

India said Kabul had also offered mining opportunities to India.

"We have a shared interest in boosting trade and commerce," Jaishankar said.

"Your invitation to Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan is also deeply appreciated."

P.AbuBaker--SF-PST