Kabul: An Indian delegation led by MEA Joint Secretary JP Singh met senior members of the Taliban in Afghanistan's Kabul on Thursday.
It is the first visit by an Indian team since the Taliban’s capture of power in Kabul to oversee the delivery operations of India’s humanitarian assistance to the country.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, saying the India team will meet Taliban leadership and representatives of the International Organisations involved in the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
“A team led by the Joint Secretary (PAI), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is currently on a visit to Kabul to oversee the delivery operations of our humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi while addressing a media briefing.
The team will try to visit various places in Afghanistan where India-assisted projects and programmes are being implemented, he said.
A Taliban spokesperson took to Twitter and said that the Indian team met with leaders of the Islamic group and discussed bilateral trade and humanitarian assistance.
“Today, IEA Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi received Indian MEA Joint Secretary JP Singh and accompanying delegation. The meeting focused on India-Afghan diplomatic relations, bilateral trade and humanitarian aid,” Taliban spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on Twitter.
“The Indian delegation said they sought positive relations with Afghanistan as in the past and that they would continue their assistance,” he added.