9 months after the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan, the group has made a major diplomatic outreach to India. The timing is interesting given that relations between Taliban and its long-time patron Pakistan have been souring.
In an interview to news outlet Wion, Afghan foreign ministry's spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said that Taliban has open communication channels with India. India had also sent wheat as food aid to Afghanistan amid the political turmoil after Taliban's takeover. Balkhi appreciated the move, saying, "We will always remember those that helped Afghanistan in times of our need."
Amid reports that India might reopen low-level diplomatic offices in Afghanistan, the Taliban leader supported the idea. Balkhi said that Delhi should restart consular services in Afghanistan.
He also said that Indian projects in Afghanistan are being maintained. India had invested heavily in development work in Afghanistan when elected governments were in power. These included building of the Afghan parliament building.
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Meanwhile, ties between Taliban and Islamabad has going through a rough patch, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of not doing enough to control terrorism from Afghan soil. Islamabad claims that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which carries out attacks in Pakistan, has been aided by the Afghan Taliban.