India deploys team in Afghan
For the first time since August last year when India pulled out all its diplomats from Kabul following the Taliban takeover, New Delhi on Thursday announced it had deployed a “technical team” at its Embassy in the Afghan Capital to “closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and in continuation of our engagement with the Afghan people”. This will be the first time since August last year when India-based personnel are being positioned at the Indian Embassy once again.
This follows the major move by New Delhi three weeks ago aimed at engaging with the Taliban regime that is in power in Afghanistan and containing Pakistan’s influence there, when a visiting team led by senior diplomat J.P. Singh had held talks in Kabul with senior Taliban leaders including the regime’s “foreign minister” Amir Khan Muttaqi.
An assessment of the security situation had also been carried out during that visit, New Delhi revealed on Thursday. India does not recognise the Taliban regime but some observers feel the steps taken on Thursday could well pave the way for an eventual resumption of fullfledged operations of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
In a statement on Thursday, New Delhi said, “India has a historical and civilisational relationship with the Afghan people. In order to closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and in continuation of our engagement with the Afghan people, an Indian technical team has reached Kabul today and has been deployed in our Embassy there.”
New Delhi added, “Recently, another Indian team had visited Kabul to oversee the delivery operations of our humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and met with senior members of the Taliban. During the visit, an assessment of the security situation was also carried out. Our longstanding links with Afghan society and our development partnership including humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, will continue to guide our approach going forward.”
It may be recalled that the team headed by J,P. Singh — the joint secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, IRAN—PAI) in the MEA — had visited Kabul early this month to “oversee the delivery operations of Indian humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan”.