India pledges assistance to Afghanistan's health sector; Indian Embassy to be reopened in Kabul

NEW DELHI: India has pledged assistance to Afghanistan in areas including healthcare and disaster relief. The Indian Embassy in Kabul will be reopened, and India will help rebuild homes destroyed by recent earthquakes. Food aid will continue as well. The commitments were made during a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who was visiting India for the first time. However, India has not opened its mind on recognising the Taliban government.

Jaishankar said that, respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence, the Indian office in Kabul, currently functioning technically, will be upgraded to full embassy status. India will provide hospitals in Afghanistan with 20 ambulances, MRI and CT scan machines, vaccines and cancer medicines. Jaishankar personally handed over five ambulances to the Afghan minister.

India will also construct a 30-bed hospital, an oncology centre, and a trauma centre in Kabul’s Bagrami district, along with five maternity health clinics in other provinces.

Trade barriers will be removed

1. A joint trade committee will be formed to remove trade barriers, and air cargo movement will be strengthened.

2. India and Afghanistan will organise more cricket tournaments together.

3. Indian companies are invited to invest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.

Warning to Pakistan

Amir Khan Muttaqi condemned Pakistan’s attacks targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Kabul. He said cross-border actions are wrong and warned against testing Afghan courage. “If in doubt, ask the Soviet Union, the US, or NATO,” he said, emphasising that interfering with Afghanistan will not end well.

No Anti-India activities allowed

Muttaqi stated that no one would be allowed to use Afghan territory for operations against India. He and Jaishankar agreed to oppose all forms of terrorism.