India, Taliban Hold Landmark Ministerial-Level Talks

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a landmark conversation with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, marking the first high-level engagement since the Taliban assumed power in 2021. Both ministers condemned the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and rejected Pakistani media reports seeking to sow distrust between the two countries. Discussions covered expanding bilateral cooperation, with particular focus on humanitarian assistance, economic collaboration, visa facilitation for Afghan traders and patients, and the release of Afghan prisoners held in India. Both India and Afghanistan denied Pakistan's claims of an Indian missile striking Afghan territory. The talks took place amid heightened regional tensions, especially between India and Pakistan. This engagement underscores India's approach of prioritizing the Afghan people's welfare while navigating complex regional dynamics.