NEW DELHI (Dispatches) – India is expanding its engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, capitalizing on a breakdown in relations between Kabul and its former ally Pakistan to advance New Delhi’s strategic and economic interests in the region.
Five years after the Taliban’s return to power on August 15, 2021, India has moved from complete disengagement to pragmatic diplomatic outreach, upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy in October 2025.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, where Kabul pledged not to allow Afghan territory to be used against India and condemned regional terrorism.  
The rapprochement follows a sharp deterioration in Afghanistan-Pakistan ties, presenting New Delhi with an opportunity to challenge Pakistani influence in a country long viewed as Islamabad’s strategic backyard.
Afghanistan’s location at the crossroads of South and Central Asia offers India access to energy-rich Central Asian states and new markets, addressing New Delhi’s growing energy demands. 
The Taliban administration has invited Indian firms to invest in Afghanistan’s mining sector, which holds untapped deposits of oil, natural gas, and minerals. Both sides have also agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects, building on the Salma Dam in Herat.
India’s engagement is anchored in healthcare initiatives, including a 30-bed hospital in Bagram, maternity clinics in Paktika, Khost, and Paktia provinces, and upgrades to Kabul’s Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health.  
India does not formally recognize the Taliban administration, and its pragmatic engagement raises questions about the nature of its partnership with a regime that has consolidated control while restricting women’s rights and excluding minority groups from governance.
The Taliban’s record on inclusivity and human rights remains a concern for the international community, even as regional powers increasingly engage with Kabul. 
India’s shift toward direct engagement reflects a calculation that maintaining economic diplomacy in Afghanistan allows it to counter Pakistani influence and balance growing Chinese interest in the region.
Analysts note that Afghanistan’s domestic stability is tied to India’s regional integration and energy security goals. 
Both sides have emphasized respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while agreeing to maintain regular engagement. 
Whether India’s expanded footprint translates into lasting influence—or merely accommodates a regime whose trajectory remains uncertain—remains an open question.