The invitation to Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, reflects India’s pragmatic and nuanced shift from past decades of distancing itself from the Taliban.
For nearly two decades after the US-led invasion ousted the Taliban in 2001, India maintained a firm policy of non-engagement with the group, aligning with the broader international consensus.
However, evolving ground realities in the region, mounting regional competition, and a sober reassessment of India’s strategic interests in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape have driven New Delhi’s cautious reboot of ties with Kabul’s new rulers.
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A Slow Reboot
For over four years, New Delhi treaded cautiously on Kabul, maintaining humanitarian contact while keeping diplomatic ties limited.
In the background, India and Afghanistan conducted
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