**India Welcomes Afghanistan’s Rejection of Distrust Attempts**
India has expressed its approval of Afghanistan’s dismissal of efforts to sow distrust between the two nations. This comes as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in a historic conversation with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban. During this call, Jaishankar also expressed gratitude to Muttaqi for condemning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals due to Pakistan-linked terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a telephonic discussion on Thursday, Jaishankar emphasized India’s longstanding friendship with the Afghan people and reiterated India’s commitment to supporting their developmental needs. He welcomed Muttaqi’s firm rejection of recent attempts to create discord between India and Afghanistan, which were fueled by misleading reports, particularly from certain Pakistani media outlets suggesting that India had orchestrated a “false flag” operation.
This conversation marks a significant moment, as it is the first political-level interaction between India and the Taliban since the latter took control of Kabul in August 2021. Prior to this, in January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had met with Muttaqi in Dubai. The last political engagement before this recent exchange occurred between 1999 and 2000, when then-External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh communicated with Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil following the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814.
Jaishankar described his conversation with Muttaqi as “good” and expressed appreciation for the Taliban’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. He highlighted the importance of fostering cooperation between the two nations and discussed potential avenues for enhancing bilateral relations, trade, and transit cooperation.
This dialogue follows a recent agreement between India and Pakistan to cease military strikes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, which was also condemned by the Taliban regime. In the wake of the attack, Indian special envoy Anand Prakash traveled to Kabul to meet with Muttaqi, focusing on strengthening political ties and discussing regional developments.
As India navigates its relationship with Afghanistan, the emphasis remains on maintaining a supportive stance towards the Afghan people and addressing their developmental needs.
**FAQ**
**Q: What was the significance of Jaishankar’s conversation with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister?**
A: Jaishankar’s conversation marked the first political-level contact between India and the Taliban since their takeover in 2021, emphasizing India’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan while addressing attempts to create distrust.
