The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced on Tuesday that it had upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to a full Embassy with immediate effect.

The move follows External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s pledge to upgrade the mission during his 9 October meeting in New Delhi with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

A statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs stated, “In keeping with the decision announced during the recent visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister to India, the Government is restoring the status of the Technical Mission of India in Kabul to that of Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect.” 

The statement said, “The Embassy of India in Kabul will further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives, in keeping with the priorities and aspirations of Afghan society.”

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, India has maintained only a “technical mission” in Kabul, focused on humanitarian and development efforts.

The upgrade comes at a very sensitive period amid escalating tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. For more than a week, Afghan and Pakistani security forces have exchanged heavy fire along their border. These intense clashes have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties, with many lives lost on both sides. 

Over the weekend, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement in Doha, with Qatar and Türkiye mediating.

However, the situation on the border between the two countries remains delicate. The second round of talks between the two nations is scheduled for 25 October in Istanbul. 

Pakistan remains intensely sensitive to Indian involvement in Afghanistan and will be vigilantly observing the new developments.

According to analysts from the International Crisis Group, New Delhi’s latest actions could reshape and potentially complicate the regional balance of power. 

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