In a significant diplomatic development, a Taliban delegation led by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister recently visited New Delhi for official talks, the first such high-level engagement since the group took power in Kabul in 2021.

Following the talks, India announced plans to reopen its full-fledged embassy in Kabul and expand cooperation in health, infrastructure, and education.

But the visit also drew criticism after female journalists were reportedly barred from attending the Taliban minister’s press briefing, a reminder of the regime’s continuing restrictions on women and the media, and a point of discomfort for India’s democratic image.

This renewed engagement comes as Taliban–Pakistan relations deteriorate, creating new strategic openings that India appears ready to explore. Yet, New Delhi’s outreach raises difficult questions: what has prompted this shift now? Can India balance pragmatic diplomacy with the values it has historically stood for? And can it deepen ties with the Taliban without extending formal recognition?

Guest: Kallol Bhattacharjee, Foreign affairs reporter, The Hindu.

Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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