India’s hosting of the Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi marked a pivotal moment in New Delhi’s pragmatic realignment of its Afghan policy, reflecting a calculated effort to secure national interests amid shifting regional dynamics and ongoing security challenges.

The visit, notable for its diplomatic symbolism and the controversy surrounding a press conference, took place against the backdrop of violent border clashes between Pakistan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as well as mounting scrutiny over women’s rights in Afghanistan and India’s diplomatic engagement standards. Until recently, India’s interaction with the Taliban regime was limited to humanitarian aid and emergency support managed by a small technical team at its shuttered Kabul embassy.

Muttaqi’s visit, made possible through a temporary UN travel exemption, marked a shift from this cautious stance. India announced that its technical mission would be upgraded to a fully operational embassy during the minister’s stay, while unveiling six new development projects and expanding trade opportunities. This engagement came without extending formal diplomatic recognition to the Taliban government.

The decision to open diplomatic channels likely reflects recognition of the realities on the ground rather than endorsement of the regime. The Afghan foreign minister expressed similar pragmatism, encouraging Indian firms to invest in mining and reconstruction, and pledging that Afghan territory would not be used for hostile activities against other nations. The joint statement issued after prolonged discussions outlined several key commitments.

India reaffirmed its support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and promised assistance for forcibly repatriated Afghan refugees. Both sides condemned all forms of cross-border terrorism, avoiding direct reference to Pakistan but clearly alluding to recent attacks and border incidents linked to Islamabad.

Development cooperation was expanded, with India resuming infrastructure and humanitarian projects across Afghan provinces. The Taliban assured India of security guarantees, stating that no group would be allowed to plan or launch attacks against third countries from Afghan soil. Both governments also agreed to maintain dialogue aimed at promoting regional peace, stability, and mutual trust, signalling their rejection of external interference.

These commitments directly address India’s national security concerns, particularly after the Pahalgam attack earlier this year, which reportedly involved coordination from Afghan territory. The timing of Muttaqi’s visit coincided with rising violence between Pakistani forces and the Taliban’s affiliate group in Pakistan, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan(TTP).

Coinciding with Muttaqi’s visit, Pakistan conducted military operations targeting TTP leaders inside Afghanistan, followed by airstrikes on multiple border towns. The TTP retaliated by attacking police training facilities and border outposts, causing heavy casualties on both sides. As hostilities intensified, Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harbouring TTP militants and launched further artillery and airstrikes along the Durand Line.

The Taliban claimed to have inflicted several Pakistani casualties and captured a number of border posts, underscoring the deteriorating situation and complicating both India’s outreach and Pakistan’s regional calculations. In New Delhi, Amir Khan Muttaqi’s first press conference at the Afghan embassy drew widespread criticism after female journalists were barred from attending.

The exclusion triggered condemnation from Indian media associations, opposition parties, and international observers. Indian opposition leaders described it as gender discrimination, while journalist unions called it deeply concerning. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs distanced itself from the event, clarifying that it was organised independently by the Afghan embassy.

At a subsequent press conference attended by female journalists, Muttaqi attributed the incident to a technical oversight rather than deliberate intent. He stated that girls’s education was not prohibited in Afghanistan, claiming that 2.8mn out of 10mn schoolchildren were girls in his country. The controversy, however, renewed global attention on restrictions facing Afghan women and raised questions about India’s commitment to gender equality in its diplomatic engagements.

Muttaqi’s visit and India’s recalibrated approach highlight New Delhi’s attempt to safeguard its strategic interests in Afghanistan from both Pakistani interference and the influence of regional militant groups. India’s goals include restoring its presence in Afghan development and mining sectors to counter Pakistan and China, ensuring Afghan soil is not used for cross-border attacks, maintaining open diplomatic channels for crisis management and humanitarian coordination, and reaffirming its rights-based approach by publicly responding to gender exclusion.

Critics, however, argued that India’s response to the press controversy was too restrained. This pragmatic engagement reflects India’s evolving foreign policy in a region defined by fluid alliances and enduring instability. By reopening its embassy, India is neither endorsing the Taliban regime nor retreating from Afghanistan. Rather, it is positioning itself to influence outcomes in Central Asia while countering Pakistani and Chinese ambitions.

For the Taliban, the visit offered a platform to seek legitimacy, investment, and diplomatic credibility. For Pakistan, it was viewed with unease as India refrained from supporting its claims of Afghan complicity with the TTP and avoided direct criticism of Islamabad in the joint communiqué. The future of India-Taliban relations remains uncertain and will depend on the Taliban’s ability to uphold its security assurances and gradually expand women’s participation in public life. India’s continued engagement will test whether it can balance strategic pragmatism with its stated democratic principles.

The visit marked the emergence of a new phase in Indian diplomacy, characterised by engagement without recognition, investment without illusion, and cautious advocacy for rights within the confines of regional power politics. It is a policy born of necessity but pursued with quiet determination.