Particularly after a meeting between Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Dubai on January 8, 2025, the recent diplomatic engagement between India and the Taliban has drawn a lot of attention. This meeting is significant because it is the first high-level discussion between India and the Taliban since the latter’s August 2021 takeover of Afghanistan.
As part of its continuous efforts to strengthen relations with Afghanistan, India held talks in Dubai on a number of topics, including trade, humanitarian assistance, and regional security. India held this meeting soon after denouncing Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan that killed civilians.
India condemned Pakistan’s December 24 airstrikes, which were said to have killed at least 46 civilians, as a show of support for the Taliban government. Pakistan’s historical propensity to attribute its internal problems to its neighbors has drawn criticism from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The Taliban have made it clear that they want to deepen their economic relations with India, highlighting the significance of India’s position as a regional economic force. Increasing trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port, which India is developing as a substitute route to avoid Pakistan’s ports, was one topic of discussion.
Despite the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, India has remained steadfast in its commitment to aiding Afghanistan. This continued support has been emphasized by recent high-level talks between Indian officials and the Taliban.
India has sent large amounts of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, such as:
In light of shifting regional dynamics, India’s engagement with the Taliban is viewed as a calculated move. Given the escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, this engagement is seen as a calculated move by India to increase its influence in Afghanistan. The regional dynamics are further complicated by the Taliban’s support for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is a threat to Pakistan.
The Afghan leadership has been resisting the Taliban’s attempts to impose control, which has caused tensions between the two countries to worsen. The Taliban are less dependent on Pakistan now than they were in the past and are working to establish their independence.
India wants to play a bigger part in Afghanistan, particularly as China’s relations with the Taliban get stronger. India’s need to balance Pakistan’s influence and protect its own security interests in the area is one of the factors driving this engagement.
A complicating factor in Islamabad’s security situation is the Taliban’s backing of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Since the Taliban’s comeback, the TTP has increased its operations, posing an increasing threat to Pakistan’s stability.
According to reports, there has been a notable increase in terrorist activity in Pakistan since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. The TTP’s resurgence and its ties to the Afghan Taliban are blamed for the increase in violence.
Tensions are further heightened by the Taliban’s unwillingness to acknowledge the Durand Line, which marks the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This problem might inflame separatist feelings in Pakistan’s tribal regions, which could further destabilize the area.
Indian officials have recently criticized Pakistan’s strategy, echoing Islamabad’s historical tendency to attribute its internal problems to outside forces.
Increased casualties and unrest among the local populace have resulted from the Pakistani military’s stepped-up operations against alleged threats. Movements calling for more autonomy and an end to military operations in tribal areas have been triggered by this oppressive approach.
Pakistan faces difficulties as a result of the substantial change in regional geopolitics brought about by the developing relationship between India and the Taliban. Islamabad is under increasing pressure from both inside and outside its borders as India tries to balance Pakistani domination in Afghanistan with its own influence. With possible ramifications for regional security and stability, the situation is still unstable.
