Indian Foreign Minister Meets Taliban Official to Discuss Bilateral Trade Ties
India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, has confirmed holding a meeting with Nooruddin Azizi, who serves as the Minister of Industry and Commerce under the Taliban administration. The meeting comes despite the fact that the Taliban government has not been officially recognized by the majority of the international community, including the United Nations.
Jaishankar stated that the discussions focused on strengthening trade relations, expanding bilateral cooperation, and exploring ways to deepen people-to-people ties between the two nations. In a post on his official X account, he emphasized that the meetings underlined the importance of creating greater opportunities for collaboration between New Delhi and Kabul.
Jaishankar also reiterated India’s continued commitment to the progress and welfare of the Afghan people. His remarks come at a time when Afghanistan continues to face severe economic crises, widespread deprivation of basic rights, and growing restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration.
The frequency of meetings between Indian officials and representatives of the Taliban has increased recently, although the implications of such engagements on the human rights and political situation of Afghan citizens remain unclear. Afghan civil society groups have consistently urged foreign governments to avoid legitimizing the Taliban regime and to prioritize the fundamental rights of the Afghan people in any diplomatic dialogue.
