India Engages Taliban with High-Level Diplomatic Meeting

India has significantly enhanced its diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, highlighted by a high-level meeting between India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai. This marks a strategic shift from India's historical view of the Taliban as a Pakistan proxy, especially given the current tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. India's approach aims to secure its strategic interests in Afghanistan through trade, connectivity, and humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, Pakistan's initial expectations of a stable western border under Taliban rule have faltered, as the Taliban has not addressed threats from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to conduct cross-border attacks. Despite the Taliban's conservative stance on education and strict legal systems, they have maintained stability and public order, which has been crucial for their governance. As India and Afghanistan seek to solidify their bilateral relations, both nations underscore the importance of economic cooperation and people-to-people ties.