For the first time since the Islamic Emirate regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, a diplomat nominated by the Afghanistan has arrived in India and is set to assume responsibility for the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi.
kabul 24: Noor Ahmad Noor, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, has reached the Indian capital and is expected to serve as Chargé d’Affaires of the Afghan Embassy in India.
According to a detailed report by The Hindu newspaper, this development marks a significant shift, as it is the first time since the Taliban’s return to power that a representative officially appointed by Kabul has been allowed to take over diplomatic duties in India.Sources indicate that the decision followed months of discreet and direct discussions between Indian authorities and the Afgahan-led interim government in Afghanistan.
The breakthrough appears to stem from the visit of Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Minister, to New Delhi in October 2025.
During that visit, Muttaqi held talks with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, covering a range of bilateral issues, including the future management of Afghan diplomatic missions in India.
Until now, the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi had remained under the control of diplomats appointed by the previous Islamic Republic government. The Taliban had repeatedly demanded the handover of the mission but faced resistance.
The acceptance of Noor Ahmad Noor as Chargé d’Affaires represents a major concession by New Delhi and signals a pragmatic, step-by-step approach in India’s engagement with the current Afghan authorities.
Analysts view this move as part of India’s broader “engagement without recognition” policy toward the Islamic Emirate.
While India has not formally recognized the Taliban government, recent months have seen growing practical interactions, including humanitarian assistance, limited trade discussions, and regional security dialogues.
The arrival of Noor Ahmad Noor in New Delhi could pave the way for improved consular services for Afghan nationals in India, expanded economic contacts, and potentially more structured diplomatic channels in the future.
However, significant challenges remain, including India’s longstanding security concerns regarding Afghanistan, its relations with Pakistan, and the unresolved political status of the current Afghan administration.
This development is widely seen as a milestone in India–Afghanistan relations under the present circumstances and may influence the trajectory of bilateral ties in the coming years.
