Amidst Pak-TTP talks, Indian officials visit Kabul

While Afghanistan is mediating high-level talks between Pakistan and outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Indian officials made their first visit to Kabul since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

This is the first visit of an Indian official delegation since the US left. The officials will meet the senior members of the ruling Taliban, said an official statement.

India’s joint secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, GP Singh, met with Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki.

“The Indian team will meet the senior members of the Taliban, and hold discussions on India’s humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan,” the Indian ministry said in a statement.

According to the details available, the officials will oversee the humanitarian assistance that India has been given to the local Afghans after the US left the country in turmoil. Pakistan has also given a special route to Indian trucks to take wheat to Afghanistan via Wagha Border on humanitarian grounds.

According to data, India has donated about 20,000 tonnes of wheat, 13 tonnes of medicines, and 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Afghans till date.

Other than the medical facilities, they have also provided the winter clothing, with more food grains on the way, according to a statement by the Indian Ministry.

India, after the US pull-out in August last year, closed its embassy and took all of its official staff back to New Delhi. They have also said that they were not sure about the re-opening of the embassy yet.