Public sentiment regarding India's diplomatic engagement with the Taliban is deeply divided. While some participants support the move as a pragmatic strategy to counterbalance Pakistan and strengthen ties with the Afghan people due to historical connections, many express strong disapproval rooted in concerns over human rights violations, particularly against women. The discussions reflect a broader skepticism about the Taliban's trustworthiness and the moral implications of aligning with a regime known for oppression.

India

Taliban

Pakistan

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&gt;Now, who is Amir Khan Muttaqi? He’s not some neutral diplomat. He was a Mujahideen fighter trained in Pakistan who joined the Taliban in 1994. When the Taliban came to power in 1996, he became the Education Minister — the same person who enforced the ban on girls’ education. In 2001, even before 9/11, the UN put him on their terrorist sanctions list, alongside people like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. He was part of the Taliban regime that helped hijacker Masood Azhar during the IC814 crisis.

Yes, well unfortunately, Taliban is today the ruling party of a sovereign state and are entitled to all the trappings that go with it, which includes non-interference in their domestic affairs by other sovereign states. If the Afghan people do not like Taliban, they had a wonderful opportunity to have a non-Taliban government in charge of their country. It didn't work out.

Sumeru88

No permanent friends, no permanent foes.

When Afghan Taliban needed Pakistan help to survive during US presence in Afghanistan, they'd attack India, train people for attacks and even claim responsibility.

Today, they need help from India for their India built hospitals, dams, care for their dams, and more help for water resource management and a middle man between Iran and themselves to avoid a two front border clash, with Pakistan and Iran, at the same time.

Fortunately, Indian and Afghani Taliban interests align. So we're normalizing relations.

Have they been involved in costing Indian lives in the past? 100%, definitely.

Today's relationship building with them is to avoid future Indian lives lost.

Ok-Pea3414

You still don't understand Geopolitics. No amount of CHATGPT text can make us think you do. Trump laid out the red carpet for Ahmed Al-shara, the most wanted terrorist from the CIA list, who is now the interim president of Syria.

The Obama administration banned Modi from entering the UAS, the same Obama rolled out the red carpet from Modi and called him "Partner and friend".

When it comes to politics, nothing is black or white.

Alive-Astronaut-5549

This post is an epitome of intellectual bankruptcy.

What is the point of harping about that one presser where women journalists were not allowed, when the next presser involved women journalists whose hard questions were answered by the Afghan Taliban FM. I think conducting the next presser with women journalists is indicative that their earlier explanation of a genuine mistake in invitation of earlier presser are true. No need to make such a hullaballu over a mistake.

By engaging with someone you can expose them to newer ideas and expand their horizons. This holds true for Afghan Taliban as well. I hope this is not a foreign concept to you, I am asking since you have demonstrated a remarkable level of intellectual bankruptcy.

KizaruMus

Just tell me one thing Why do we have diplomatic relations with North Korea and Israel, both of these are terr*rists nations but still we have relations and trade with them. Also why have named a Party instead use Govt of India because its India's policy not BJPs. Also your criticizing Govt of India is wrong for the misogyny exhibited by Taliban govt and embassy. The rules weren't made by Indian govt but Taliban itself. If we start to end diplomatic relations with every country that commits Human right violations then not even a single country will remain. Why did we have relations with South Africa, US after racist segregation, can you answer this?


This is how the world works and has been working brother. Our relations with Afghanistan is our concern, Taliban govt's relation with its people is its concern not ours. If the people there are good then why do we have a problem. Never enter other's fight, history is proof.

OPresearch_

I have one emotional friend who writes similar things.

Open-Evidence-6536

no country ever run based on ideology or pure ethics trust me

Iran an islamic nation support armenia (Christian) against an muslim majority country (azerbaijan)

while Israel support azerbaijan

USA supports pakistan even tho they hide osama and normal pakistani  people hate usa

USA supports democracy still supporting monarchy country like saudi,qatar

China is communist(atheist ) still mantain good relation with Islamic country 

  
and there are more countless example like this

Excellent-Bat-1049

Geopolitics is not for normal folks. Our diplomats are way more experienced and knowledgeable so let them handle it. Iran and Israel are were at each other's throat and still managed to be friends with both of them after the end of the war. Diplomacy is not as easy as people think.

zenoalive

Nobody says that diplomacy and geopolitical strategy need to adhere to some moral code of conduct.

Stop with the AI nonsense. You forgot to delete your emdash

Peacetime-Liberal

Why should we care about how foreign nations conduct their affairs unless it affects us? 

BJP plays hypocrisy card much better.  Their voter base range from hardcore right wing and even extends upto centre left .  They still carry out centre left governance of congress,  even if their core voters may like Taliban styled  practices. 

It is like the palastine cause- most people love it and hate it for religion. Only a few people wants a secure nation and right to self rule free of religious craziness.

telaughingbuddha

Right now taliban is keeping pakistan in check and most probably that minister got funds to fight the war. I'm in favour of that. Pakistan will be busy fight it's own war India will have less things to worry.

Spirited_Retriever

As a matter of fact America has directly killed more indian lives and in such way that it still is a big problem 

I am talking about Female Feticide 

Yupp , believe me or not (you can google it ) 

It was American Cooperation which funded Amniocentesis (basically a practice where you can determine the sex of fetus as well as many congenital diseases) in AIMS delhi and all major government institutions 


And there were not even subtle about it , the story which they made for covering it is that Indians want male heir and thus if they get a male heir they won't proreate and have more babies 

This started the long long chain of female Feticide, 

Yet america is (more likely was) a major ally

Many_Pin3463

The problem here is usa fcking doesn't know what to with afghanistan first back Mujahideen against soviets and when Mujahideens get power then overthrow them and install a government which can only be described as a corruptocracy like they just wanted that region to suffer and now this is the card we all are dealt with and unfortunately we have to play or let afghanistan be part of china's sphere of influence

jayantsr

I don't think anyone is going to defend Taliban. The truth is that Afghanistan, and it's land are important of India regardless of who rules Afghanistan. 

Proof_Earth_7592

Submission:

Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's eight-day visit to India marks the highest-level engagement since the Taliban seized power in 2021. This previously "unimaginable" visit illustrates pragmatism and realpolitik on both sides, as they look to upgrade diplomatic, political, and trade links.
The discussions focus on trade, economic ties, and diplomatic relations. Following a meeting between Muttaqi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, India announced it will reopen its embassy in Kabul, which was closed four years ago. Muttaqi, calling India a "close friend," also met with the Indian business community.

This warming relationship between India and the de facto Taliban government is set against a backdrop of sharply deteriorating ties between Pakistan and the Taliban. Pakistan, historically a close ally of the Taliban, is now publicly calling Afghanistan an "enemy country" due to the alleged sheltering of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a charge the Taliban rejects.

r_bradbury1

There's one more thing to be added to this discussion. The rare earth minerals &amp; gold mines which previously china along with pakistan were trying and now, america is after.. that's why, it's cozying up with a chamellion pakistan... Afghanistan knows this and they always remember that whenever natural calamities take effect, India is always there, tomm India has also built their government office, parliament &amp; what not? Here, this visit was  also to3 open their embassy..

Only_bliss_

The Taliban ties with Hamas are aborhant, and it treatment of women is disgusting and are a throwback to the 7th century. However in foreign policy they rule pretty pragmatically (for the most part), for example: 

-during the conflict between India, and Pakistan they pretty much claimed neutrality and called for de-esclation

- they are fighting the Khorsan provience , and seeking foreign help in the process ISIS-K is a huge problem for everybody it even more extreme at times then the main ISIS branch.

- they quietly seeked American and other nations help in the fight against the Khorsan provience 

Yes  they host Al qaeda leaders but pledged they will not be allowed to attack other nations (I really think Al qaeda attack on 9/11 caught the Taliban off guard, even before 9/11 there were talks the deobandi taliban had a odd relationship with the neo-salafi/neowhabbi Al qaeda, yet felt compelled to bot give them up as guests and fight to defend their guests, even if those guests are terrorists that killed 3,000 people in the biggest attack on us soil), regardless Al qaeda is out on a short leash and even the Taliban turned the blind eye and must of allowed the us to attack and kill Iman Al Zawarhi right in a guest house in Kanual, even Al qaeda elements have accused the Taliban of giving up Iman Al Zawarhi in some grand bargain behind the scenes.

- growing ties with India, as well as growing ties with China even refusing The Uyhgur jihadist TIP to take base and sage haven in Afghanistan, while china has slashed 89% if tariffs on afghan goods and investing in Afghanistan, of course India and The Taliban has issues ith Pakistan, with India it kashmir, with Afgjanistan it's the durand line border dispute.

- recently held talks with the Trump adminstration about a prisoner exchange and some form of normalized relation seeking economic aid, and international recognition.

-has diplomatic relations with Russia as both fear the isis linked Khorsan provience and seeking currency and trade deals

at-times with the uae and allowing emirati firm GAAN to handle security at Kabul airport, Eithad is now making flights to Kabul, as well as the UAE helping to negioate the relations between the Taliban and India that happened recently.

- the Taliban has a office in Doha, Qatar airways has been keying fscilating foreign evacuations from Afgjanistan since the 2021 ys withdrawl and collapse and the us supported Afghan milltary and government.

So for all of their wrongs (ie - the persecution of hazera shiites, the persecution and suppression of any very small christianity in the region, turning a blind eye to the Pakistani Taliban attacks on Pakistan from within Afghanistan, it ties to Hamas and praise of oct.7th), in the the area of foreign policy (for the most part), it seems to have a surpsignly pragmatic and somewhat rational foreign policy  compared to it isolationist stance, and exportation of terrorism outside of the region in their dogmatic 1996 to 2001 rule.

Psychological-Flow55

&gt;This particular trip comes against a backdrop of worsening ties between both India and Pakistan, and Pakistan and the Taliban government.

&gt;"The deterioration in ties with Pakistan also allows them \[Taliban\] to hedge their bets and show how it is no longer dependent on Islamabad for its survival - carving out an identity separate from their over-dependence on Pakistan," Harsh V Pant and Shivam Shekhawat, of the Observer Research Foundation think tank, wrote in a [piece for NDTV ](https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/why-the-taliban-foreign-minister-is-really-visiting-india-9417392)news channel.

Forget the "enemy of my enemy", it's now "the old friend of my enemy is my new friend".

~~I hope India knows what it's doing, but for now this empowers the Taliban more so than it helps India. I doubt the Taliban would turn their back on their old friend, another fundamentalist Muslim country, like India hopes, despite whatever schism is developing between them and Pakistan.~~

Edit: I was wrong, please see below comments.

ImperiumRome

They fully enslave half their population, more than 20 Million women, entirely treated like cattle. But sure, go ahead and celebrate building diplomacy with them, I guess

heytherehellogoodbye

[deleted]

Geopolitics is party, group, political neutral. The ground realities w.r.t. your neighbours rarely change with the change of the people in power on the domestic side. 

This is a fundamental reality.

raracha

Me. I anticipated it.

China signed mineral deals and was negotiating building an economic corridor through Kabul in 2024. 

If anything I am surprised why India delayed bolstering ties with Afghanistan by almost a year or so. This should have happened last year itself. 

Culturally there is a lot of similarities between India and Afghanistan. Food,Art,Language,Sports,Hospitality etc. Most Afghans can speak and understand Hindi to some extent. India has supported Afghanistan Cricket Team by allowing them to live and train in India. Cricket is a big thing there and so is Bollywood. We should take advantage of these and improve people to people ties with Afghanistan to a greater extent.

AIM-120-AMRAAM

Relationship with an ideological state like Taliban is a double-edged sword. Ideology is the main pillar of their existence. I hope they have changed for better but a leopard can't change its spots. This should be a limited cooperation just enough for a peaceful coexistence. Pakistan is already mindlessly spewing nonsense like India using Afghanistan bases to attack them (LOL)

nishitd

Everything is possible in Geopolitics and international relations. Only mutual interest matters.

Socialaid

Everything possible with a good leadership

InternationalHold191

One of the key part AFG is trying to do is diversify its support, AFG knows Chinese investment will have Pakistan shadow. Beside this they have Iran which is under US sanctions.

India will keep a check on PAK and CHINA nexus and this will help a indirect partnership with Iran. 

One learning what AFG got from recent fight with PAK is to have a strong military before a dynamic foreign policy.

roohnair

Calling the Taliban was not the mistake, giving them the treatment we did was.

(1) Police Honours in Deoband UP

(2) Red Carpet and two Press Conferences in Hyderbad and the Embassy where women journalists were excluded

(3) A third Press Conference to justify when the backlash happened

When we travel the US as delegates, we take part in State Dinners with alcohol and other elements of American culture

When officials go to Saudi Arabia, they ask us to wear an Abbaya, or have non alcoholic drinks in their stadiums and offices according to Saudi custom.

We follow foreign customs on their land.

When the Taliban come to India - why did they not follow Indian laws?

We could have taken a stand and said

“India is a modern democracy, we have women journalists as well. We won’t favour this backward treatment of women journalists for you.”

We could not say this?

To the people justifying the GOI decision. You are trying very hard to defend a POOR decision.

It was in bad taste, and against our values as a nation.

MayofKent

If emotions and all drama aside, this is a good move. We can use afghanistan to our own advantage.

Maitreya_1111

I first did business in Afghanistan in 2000 and have no illusions about the Taliban. However;  
There's a difference between being an ally (which we are not) and having diplomatic relations, after which we can cooperate on common interests. If we have diplomatic relations with Pakistan and cooperate in a number of areas - from cricket to global warming, we can do so with Afghanistan. The difference between the last Afghan govt and now, is that Indians and our consulates in Afghanistan are safer.

Since the Taliban first took over, the non Pashtun's had a positive view of India. The Pashtun population has tribal loyalties. We have been a large aid donor which all Afghans appreciate. Our dam construction (one built, more to be done) will benefit millions of Afghans. Why would the Taliban say no to that. The side benefit is that Pakistan gets a reduced share of water originating in Afghanistan (their fault for not signing a water sharing deal with Afghanistan).

Many Afghan army officers have been trained at IMA. We are now viewed more positively than the US who abandoned them and lectured to them on women's rights, democracy etc. My blog has some first person accounts of life in Afghanistan.  
[https://rpdeans.blogspot.com/2025/07/fighting-taliban-and-betrayal-afghan.html](https://rpdeans.blogspot.com/2025/07/fighting-taliban-and-betrayal-afghan.html)

[https://rpdeans.blogspot.com/2025/07/life-and-geopolitics-in-afghanistan.html](https://rpdeans.blogspot.com/2025/07/life-and-geopolitics-in-afghanistan.html)

Dean_46

I am more surprised it hasn’t happened earlier and the ties aren’t stronger. The geopolitical interest is extremely high and it is a waste that it isn’t explored.

DSM0305

Pavneet Sir - check his old videos/books, where he says Taliban 2.0 will be ally to India.

DOS11

I vaguely remember several years back when taliban had not yet usurped the then govt, I had a convo with someone where I stated something along the lines ... "If they ever manage to overthrow the government then this enmity will someday turn to friendship"...and here we are several years later!

Rare_Turnover_420

Kinda,i just wanna know what we get from Afghanistan , what's in it for us?

Classic-Sentence3148

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I mean India has always been like this.... Neutral

Even if it was Congress they would have done the same

India doesn't care what you do in your country as long as you don't harm India.

I mean is this news to anyone?

Also to everyone who is against Afghanistan, should India stop all trades and diplomatic relationship with every Middle Eastern countries like UAE, Saudi and Iran?

Or any autocratic country that harms its citizen like China and Russia?

Or any Country that wages war like USA and UK?

throwawayGreenland

How was the red carpet rolled out? They just met with the foreign Minister. That’s just basic diplomacy. Remember India does have the people of Afghanistan’s best interest at heart. They invested a lot of money into the infrastructure and other civil projects. When the government who is now currently ruling over those infrastructure projects asks to sit down for a meeting, it’s worth obliging them. That’s not the same thing as we’re rolling out the red carpet.

DefiantZealot

herpar

Bhai there's no morality and emotions in diplomacy........ afganistan has bad relations with pak and so it's better to have good relations with afganistan

Vedugopal_iyer

I cannot understand the fuss about welcoming Taliban led Afghanistan officials in India. If this is your standards then according to we should protest Most Favoured Nation status given by India to Pakistan, a nation-state which recently killed our citizens on the basis of religion in Pahalgam, Kashmir. 

Afghanistan would be a good friend compared to Pakistan, dreamed by both Congress and BJP govts. Those Aman ki Asha, Attari border ceremony, Cricket diplomacy all was wasted Pakistan never became our good neighbour, whereas Afghanistan even after knowing the fact Indians never recognised them still favours us because for them, Pakistan is their geopolitical foe. They didn't cared about Islamic brotherhood in 1947, opposed inclusion of Pakistan in UN, otoh we Indians up until recently referred to them as 'padosi mulk' in our movies out of fear of backlash.

World politics is based on only one ideology, to advance your own interests. Britain and France were enemies until German showed up, USA and erstwhile USSR were allies until Nåzi Germany existed. This is how political alliances shift for the sake of national interests.

Additional-Pin-5743

Its a classic case of enemy of my enemy is my friend.

jigneshpatel77

Foreign policy isn’t activism, it’s strategy.
India doesn’t run a charity — it runs a nation of 1.4 billion people with real security stakes in Afghanistan.

You don’t ‘cancel’ governments in geopolitics because you dislike them — you deal with whoever’s in power to protect your interests. That’s how every serious country operates.

Afghanistan today was shaped by the same Western geniuses who armed the Taliban in the ’80s and then abandoned the region. India, meanwhile, built hospitals, roads, and schools there — and still provides humanitarian aid even under this regime.

So before calling it “rolling out the red carpet,” maybe learn the difference between strategic diplomacy and Twitter activism disguised as morality. The world runs on realism, not Reddit outrage.

Butwhymebro

This country has gone to the dogs.
🤦🤦

iceman___11

Very limited upside, and potentially major headaches down the line

M0nast1c

The only thing india could get is isolate more pakistan hope at time of two front war afghan keep pressure on pakistan.  
Important but main:-Afghanistan as trillion of worth of resources

Mobile-Budget491

DifferentMaize9794

Sanctions and military intervention have done nothing but hurt the innocent people in Afghanistan. Legitimizing those barbarians as a government will always feel awful, but this way at least aid can be administered and the people can be invested in.

Look at Iran for example, their conservative Islamist revolution ran its course, and now more and more the country modernizes and secularizes.

Basically the world has two options, open their doors to Afghanistan and ensure the people have basic amenities while they suffer under the Taliban as well as embassies with some level of surveillance over what’s happening in the country. Or, lockout Afghanistan and let the people suffer, as well as starve and die of illness with way to leave and no external idea of what’s happening in the country. 

Military intervention is completely out of the question, the U.S. could not do it, frankly no military capably can without huge investment.

Maybe a coalition of several countries, especially if the U.S. and China are involved could in another 2 decades defeat and route the Taliban, but who will organize that level of involvement and who will secure the massive capital necessary for an endeavor like that.

Historical_Gold_5652

India upgraded its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan to a full embassy, signaling deeper engagement with the Taliban, focusing on its investments and security concerns.

India's Diplomatic Relations with Taliban in Afghanistan

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