Taliban's 5-year anniversary marked at Delhi embassy; Indian official attends

In a significant diplomatic engagement, the Taliban administration of Afghanistan on Monday marked the fifth anniversary of its rule at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi. The event, termed 'Victory Day', was attended by senior Afghan diplomats and an official of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Dr. Ikramuddin Kamil, Consul General of Afghanistan in Mumbai, and Mufti Noor Ahmed Noor, Chargé d'Affaires of the Afghan Embassy, were present. M. Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary in the MEA's Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) Division, also attended.

The commemoration came two days after August 15, the day the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 2021, following the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops after a two-decade war.

In its public messaging, the Taliban has sought to portray its government as stable and in control. However, United Nations agencies and international aid groups have repeatedly warned of deepening humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan, aggravated by natural calamities and the regime's severe restrictions on women and girls.

The Taliban has barred most Afghan women from working in NGOs and the UN, and has restricted secondary and higher education for girls. These measures have been widely condemned by the international community.

The presence of an Indian official at the event is notable, as India has not formally recognised the Taliban regime. After the takeover in 2021, India shut its embassy in Kabul and evacuated its staff. In subsequent years, India has maintained limited diplomatic and humanitarian engagement with the de facto authorities, while repeatedly calling for an inclusive government and respect for women's rights.

India has a long history of developmental partnership with Afghanistan, having built roads, schools, and hospitals, and provided scholarships to Afghan students. After the Taliban takeover, India pivoted to providing humanitarian aid, including wheat, medicines, and COVID-19 vaccines. In 2022, India sent a technical team to Kabul to assess the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

India's participation in Monday's event does not indicate a formal recognition, but reflects the country's ongoing effort to communicate with the Afghan leadership amid regional security concerns. The MEA official did not make a public statement at the event, and details of any discussions were not disclosed.

The Taliban remains unrecognised by most countries, including the United States and European Union. The United Nations has also not granted formal recognition to the Taliban government.

The Taliban's return to power in 2021 ended two decades of international military presence in Afghanistan. The withdrawal of foreign forces followed a 2020 peace deal between Washington and the Taliban.

Since the takeover, Afghanistan has been gripped by a severe economic downturn. The United Nations has estimated that more than half the population needs aid to survive. Recurrent droughts, floods, and the legacy of conflict have compounded the suffering.

The event in Delhi took place against this backdrop, with aid agencies urging sustained international attention. Reports indicate this is the first event of its kind at the Afghan Embassy in Delhi since the Taliban assumed power. The embassy is now led by diplomats appointed by the Taliban administration.