India Attends Taliban 'Victory Day' as It Balances Recognition and Engagement
India participated in the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's "Victory Day" at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, with senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) representing the country. The event marks the Taliban's return to power in Kabul in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US-led forces.
Joint Secretary Anand Prakash, who heads the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division in the MEA, attended the event along with Director Sneha Dubey. They represented India at a reception addressed by Taliban's charge d'affaires to India, Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor.
In his remarks, Noor said that stronger political trust, economic partnership, and continued engagement between Afghanistan and India would benefit both countries and contribute to regional stability, connectivity, and shared prosperity. He also expressed gratitude to the MEA and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for their support in protecting the international rights of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban's official name for the country.
"We also appreciate their emphasis at international forums on the need to ensure Afghanistan's legitimate international rights. We hope that greater attention and practical efforts will be made in this regard," Noor said, according to reports.
The event was attended by diplomats from neighbouring countries, including Iran and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from China and Russia. The gathering was described as a select affair, with a limited number of guests.
Internationally, the Taliban government has not received official recognition from any country. The United Nations and most governments continue to deal with the situation on a pragmatic basis, maintaining consular and humanitarian contacts without full diplomatic recognition. India's approach reflects this global reality.
India's participation in the event underscores its continued diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, even as it has not officially recognised the regime. New Delhi has maintained that its position on recognition aligns with the international community. However, India allowed Taliban diplomats to take control of the Afghan embassy in Delhi last year, while also upgrading its own mission in Kabul.
A notable detail is that the main flagpole of the embassy still flies the flag of the previous Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which was overthrown by the Taliban. The Taliban have been permitted to hold events at the embassy under their own flag, as was the case with a news conference by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last year.
Noor highlighted high-level visits between the two countries in recent years, stating that relations have progressed with "mutual respect, political engagement, and shared interests." He emphasised that Afghanistan's geography should not be a field for negative competition but a bridge for cooperation and shared prosperity. He also mentioned continued efforts to expand regional economic and transit cooperation and facilitate trade.
India is looking to ramp up its development presence in Afghanistan, and a high-level visit from India to Kabul is not ruled out, according to officials familiar with the matter. The two countries have a long history of diplomatic and economic ties, with India being one of the largest regional donors to Afghanistan over the past two decades.
After the Taliban takeover, India had initially scaled down its presence but has gradually re-engaged, focusing on humanitarian aid and development projects. The participation of Indian officials in the anniversary event is seen as a continuation of this incremental engagement.
