Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi this week for a high-level meeting with his Indian counterpart, marking a renewed phase of relations between the two nations.
The motive behind this visit was to strengthen humanitarian and developmental ties amid ongoing global uncertainty regarding the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
During the talks, both sides focused their commitment to deepening cooperation in healthcare, education, and trade.
Key outcomes:
India announced several key health initiatives as part of its ongoing support to the Afghan people, including the establishment of a Thalassemia Centre and a Modern Diagnostic Centre in Kabul, along with the construction of a 30-bed hospital in Kabul’s Bagrami district.
Additional projects include setting up an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre, and five maternity health clinics across the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia.
As a goodwill gesture, India also gifted 20 ambulances to Afghanistan. In the field of education, New Delhi reaffirmed its commitment to human capacity-building through the e-ICCR scholarship scheme for Afghan students.
Trade and connectivity also featured prominently in the talks. Both sides welcomed the launch of the India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor, which aims to enhance direct commerce and facilitate smoother exchange of goods between the two countries.
Muttaqi’s visit reflects Kabul’s growing intent to re-engage with regional partners, while India continues to emphasize its role in supporting Afghanistan’s development and humanitarian needs through people-centric projects.
