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A top Taliban official has met with senior Indian leaders in New Delhi as both sides explore avenues for cooperation.

Getting into it: The meeting, between Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, was held behind closed doors and marked the first formal diplomatic engagement of its kind since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The two sides discussed a broad range of issues, including counterterrorism cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and trade. While no joint statement was issued, Indian officials confirmed that the meeting was “substantive,” with both parties agreeing to maintain an open channel of communication.

During his week-long stay, Muttaqi is also expected to meet with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, and representatives from Indian business circles. According to some reports, Muttaqi is seeking to formalize diplomatic channels by pushing for India to accept a Taliban-appointed envoy at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi and to allow the expansion of consular staff in Mumbai and Hyderabad (a move that would mark a step toward recognition of the Taliban’s government). He is also appealing for increased Indian developmental support, education visas for Afghan students, and technical assistance in rebuilding Afghanistan’s infrastructure.

For India, the dialogue is part of a broader recalibration of its Afghanistan policy. After initially shutting down its embassy in Kabul after 2021, India has since reopened a small technical mission and resumed humanitarian aid. Since the Taliban returned, India has raised concerns that Afghanistan could be used for cross-border terrorism against India since they share a small border.

This meeting also comes just days after India joined China, Russia, Pakistan, and other regional powers in issuing a joint statement opposing any foreign military deployment in Afghanistan. This was a rebuke of President Trump, who has demanded control over Bagram Air Base. Last month, Trump warned that “bad things would happen if the Taliban refused to cooperate.”