First Bilateral meeting between Foreign Secretary of India and Afghanistan

Context:The First Bilateral Meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister took place on January 9, 2025. This was the highest level of engagement between the two countries since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021.

Key Highlights:



1. Humanitarian Assistance:

• The two sides evaluated ongoing Indian humanitarian assistance programs in Afghanistan, which include aid like wheat supplies to drought-affected areas.

1. Chabahar Port Agreement:

• They agreed to use the Chabahar Port (in Iran) for trade and commercial activities. This is significant as it provides Afghanistan an alternative route to the sea, bypassing Pakistan.

1. Background of India-Afghanistan Relations:

• India and Afghanistan share a long history of cooperation, symbolized by the Friendship Treaty of 1950.
• Despite not officially recognizing the Taliban, India continued humanitarian engagements, including a technical team at the Indian Embassy to assist with aid and maintain contact with the Afghan people.

1. Importance of Afghanistan for India:

• Geostrategic Location: Afghanistan's position at the "Heart of Asia" has historically been a key route for trade and cultural exchanges between India and Central Asia.
• Security and Stability: Engagement with Afghanistan is crucial for addressing regional challenges like terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
• Central Asia: Afghanistan’s location at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia makes it strategically important for India.
• Soft Power: India’s humanitarian assistance and projects like the Afghan–India Friendship Dam and Zaranj-Delaram Highway help strengthen India’s soft power in the region.

1. Rising Role of China:

• China is becoming more active in Afghanistan, taking up urban development projects in Kabul and engaging diplomatically through ambassadorial visits.

This meeting underscores the continuing strategic importance of Afghanistan for India, with a focus on humanitarian aid, regional security, and infrastructure projects, despite the political changes since the Taliban's return to power.