India and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government held a high-level meeting in Dubai on January 8, with key discussions centered on strengthening bilateral ties, regional security, and the development of strategic infrastructure such as the Chabahar Port in Iran reports India's Ministry of External Affairs.
Representing India at the meeting was Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while the Afghan delegation was led by the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban government, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. Cooperation between New Delhi and Kabul has largely remained dormant since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Key Areas of Discussion
The primary agenda of the talks included boosting bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors: humanitarian aid, trade, developmental assistance, sports, cultural exchange, and regional security. A key focus was the Chabahar Port, which serves as a crucial route for goods entering Afghanistan from India, bypassing Pakistan, which has kept the land border between India and Afghanistan blocked since 1947.
India reaffirmed its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including prioritizing healthcare, the supply of medicines, and support for refugees. India’s recent aid to Afghanistan has been substantial, with deliveries including:
- 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat,
- 300 tonnes of medicines,
- 27 tonnes of earthquake relief aid,
- 40,000 litres of pesticides,
- 100 mn polio vaccine doses,
- 1.5 mn doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and
- 11,000 hygiene kits for drug de-addiction programs, among others.
The Afghan foreign minister expressed gratitude for India’s ongoing support, noting, “We deeply appreciate India’s continued engagement and assistance for the people of Afghanistan.”
Development Projects and Future Cooperation
Looking ahead, India expressed its readiness to engage in developmental projects to address the urgent needs of the Afghan people. A statement from India’s foreign ministry emphasized that, “In view of the current need for development activities, it was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future.”
The two sides also discussed the enhancement of trade and commercial activities, including the promotion of the Chabahar Port for use in facilitating humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.
Chabahar Port
India’s Chabahar Port project plays a crucial role in enhancing trade between India and Central Asia, with a $10 bn investment aimed at improving connectivity through Iran and Afghanistan. The port bypasses Pakistan, enabling direct access to Central Asian markets, vital for India’s growing energy needs. Despite challenges like sanctions on Iran and Afghanistan, as well as regional instability, India has invested between $80 mn and $170 mn in the port. Gwadar port in India is less than 400 km from Chabahar by road and 100 km by sea.
Chabahar is key to reviving historic trade relations with Central Asia, offering an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, India’s shift toward other projects, like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), raises questions about its long-term commitment to Chabahar. The port’s success will be vital in shaping India’s economic and strategic influence in Eurasia.
Cultural and Sports Ties
In addition to the political and economic discussions, sports, particularly cricket, were also on the agenda. Both sides agreed to work together to strengthen sporting ties, with cricket being a shared passion between the two countries. Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized the “historic friendship” and “strong people-to-people contacts” between India and Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Airstrikes on Afghanistan
The timing of the meeting coincided with a recent crisis: two days before the Dubai talks, India strongly condemned Pakistani airstrikes that targeted civilian areas in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24, 2024, killing 46 people, including several women and children. This attack had drawn widespread criticism, including from the Afghan government.
India’s foreign ministry issued a firm response, stating, “We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians,” and condemned Pakistan’s pattern of blaming its neighbors for its internal failures. “It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures,” the statement said.
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