India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has stated that Afghanistan is currently facing a difficult period and requires a strategic approach to address its ongoing challenges.
He emphasized that New Delhi, drawing on its historic and strategic ties with Afghanistan, continues its cooperation in development and humanitarian sectors.
Speaking to a group of university students in India, Jaishankar said Afghanistan’s current conditions call for careful management of underlying problems from a strategic perspective.
“I just want to say that we’ve had ties with Afghanistan for centuries. There may have been ups and downs, but the relationship has always been strategic. Ultimately, we need to address certain challenges because Afghanistan is in a difficult phase, and those challenges must be viewed through a strategic lens. We are cooperating with Afghanistan on development issues, including vaccines and food supplies. I had a good conversation with my counterpart there, and we are approaching this positively,” Jaishankar said.
He also described the recent visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister of the Taliban, to India as a positive step.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, also emphasized the importance of strong ties between Kabul and New Delhi.
“Afghanistan and India share deep and long-standing ties, and both countries have commonalities. There are trade and transit needs, and we value our relationship with India. God willing, both countries will benefit, especially the Afghan people—in trade, health, and other sectors that require movement between the two nations,” Mujahid stated.
These comments come as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, and the continuation of international aid could play a key role in easing the suffering of its people.
Previously, Noorjalal Jalali and Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s ministers of industry and commerce, had also visited New Delhi to discuss medicine supplies, expanding economic cooperation, facilitating trade, encouraging joint investments, and enhancing Afghanistan’s role in regional transit corridors.
