The announcement came more than a week and a half after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaq that India would strengthen its diplomatic presence in Kabul. Photo credit: X/ @DrSJaishankar
Days after a visit by acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, India upgraded its technical mission in the Afghan capital Kabul to an embassy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that the upgrade took place with “immediate effect” on Tuesday.
“In accordance with the decision announced during the recent visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister to India, the government is restoring the status of the Technical Mission in Kabul to that of the Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect. This decision underscores India’s determination to deepen bilateral cooperation with the Afghan side in all areas of mutual interest,” the MEA said in a statement. Official sources said that a chargé d’affaires (CDA) would soon be appointed to run the embassy pending the appointment of an ambassador.
Several major powers such as Iran, China, Russia, the Gulf countries and the Central Asian republics have joined the Taliban, but Russia itself has recognized the Taliban as the de jure rulers of Afghanistan. Sources indicated that it may be sometime before India sends a formal ambassador to take charge of the embassy in Kabul.
An MEA press release said, “In line with the decision announced during the recent visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister to India, the Government is restoring the status of the Technical Mission of India in Kabul to that of the Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect.… pic.twitter.com/NUSCQRRXM2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 21, 2025
The decision to upgrade the technical mission was taken after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Mr Muttaq at Hyderabad House on October 10 against the backdrop of intense hostilities that have erupted between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Durand Line. Subsequently, both sides declared a ceasefire through Qatar.
India closed its embassy in Kabul and withdrew existing staff in August 2021 when law and order collapsed as the Taliban overthrew the government of President Ashraf Ghani. Indian consulates in Mazaar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Kandahar and Herat were also closed as the conflict intensified in early 2021. On 23 June 2022, India sent a technical team to Kabul to lead a mission to facilitate humanitarian assistance and provide consular assistance.
Published – 21 Oct 2025 21:09 IST
