Dismissing Islamabad’s allegations of Indian involvement in the clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Taliban leader and Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob has said Kabul will “strengthen” ties with New Delhi “within the framework of our national interests”.
The son of Taliban founder the late Mullah Omar, Yaqoob was sent to Doha in Qatar last week by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to negotiate a ceasefire pact with Pakistan after deadly clashes.
Once considered to be extremely close to Islamabad, Yaqoob’s remarks have not gone unnoticed in New Delhi. It came days after Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi travelled to New Delhi on a six-day visit, his first since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
While India is still to grant official recognition to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, it has been providing humanitarian and development works assistance.
On Tuesday, India announced upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian embassy in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance and capacity-building initiatives. The mission, sources said, will be headed by a diplomat in the rank of charge d’affaires.
In an interview to Al Jazeera in Doha, Yaqoob, responding to a question on India’s alleged role in the tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, said, “These accusations are groundless. Our policy will never involve using our territory against other countries. We maintain relations with India as an independent nation and will strengthen those ties within the framework of our national interests. At the same time, we will preserve our relations with Pakistan based on good neighbourliness. Our aim is to expand relations, not create tensions. Pakistan’s accusations are unfounded, illogical, and unacceptable.”
Last week, amid the clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had accused India of “sponsoring” the moves of the Afghan Taliban.
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Speaking to Geo News, Asif said, “I have my doubts that the ceasefire will hold, because the decisions of the (Afghan) Taliban are being sponsored by Delhi… Right now, Kabul is fighting a proxy war for Delhi.”
He also suggested that Muttaqi had made some “plans” during his visit to India.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since 2023 with Islamabad claiming the use of Afghan soil for cross-border attacks.
Last Friday, hours after Islamabad and Kabul extended their ceasefire, Pakistan launched fresh air strikes in Afghanistan. Three Afghan cricketers were among several people killed in the strikes. Following the incident, the Afghanistan Cricket Board withdrew from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in November.
