India Upgrades Kabul Mission to Full Embassy After Aghanistan Minister's Visit

In a major diplomatic move, India will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

"India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan... To enhance that, I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India's Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India," the minister said in his opening remarks.

The External Affairs Minister welcomed the Muttaqi and his delegation at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Several development and humanitarian initiatives, including a commitment to six new development projects to Afghanistan, were unveiled on Friday.

The Indian minister appreciated Afghanistan's response to the Pahalgam terror attack and Afghanistan's sensitivity towards India's security concerns.

In his remarks, the Union Minister said, "Your visit marks an important step in advancing our ties and affirming the enduring friendship between India and Afghanistan."

S Jaishankar noted that Afghanistan had spoken to India after the April 22 terrorist attack and also after the Kunar and Nangarhar earthquake. The in-person holds a special value in allowing to exchange perspectives, identify common interests and forge closer cooperation.

"India has long extended support for the health security of Afghanistan, including during the Covid pandemic. We are now ready to commit to six new projects, whose details can be announced after the conclusion of our talks. A gift of 20 ambulances is another gesture of good will and I would like to handover 5 of them to you personally as a symbolic step. India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more", Jaishankar added.

Jaishankar highlighted how cross-border terrorism is a shared threat to the growth and prosperity of India and Afghanistan and stated, "We must coordinate efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

"Continued food assistance, with a new consignment arriving in Kabul today, he added.

India has committed aid for earthquake-hit areas, including reconstruction of residences and assistance for Afghan refugees forcibly repatriated, including building new homes and material support.

On his turn, Afghan FM Muttaqi said that India is a close friend of Afghanistan. He stated, "In the recent earthquake in Afghanistan, India was the first responder. Afghanistan looks at India as a close friend. Afghanistan wants relations based on mutual respect, trade and people-to-people relations. We are ready to create a consultative mechanism of understanding, which helps towards strengthening our relations."

MUttaqi further stated that his visit will increase the understanding between the two countries. "India and Afghanistan should increase their engagements and exchanges...We will not allow any group to use our territory against others," he added.