Days after hosting Taliban Foreign Minister, India says ‘fully committed’ to Afghan ‘sovereignty and territorial integrity’

Days after hosting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, India on Thursday (October 16, 2025) assured Afghanistan that it remains “fully committed” to Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity, as Afghanistan and Pakistan clashed earlier this week, leaving hundreds dead along the Durand Line.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that India is “closely monitoring” the unfolding conflict. The issue of Afghanistan’s stability also featured in the Third India-Central Asia National Security Advisers’ Meeting held in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, which National Security Adviser Ajit Doval attended on Thursday.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its internal failures, and Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories. India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan,” said Mr. Jaiswal, extending support for the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan after Pakistani jets reportedly bombed targets in Kabul on Wednesday.

The two sides agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday after days of violence, marking the worst escalation since the Taliban took power in Kabul in August 2021.

The Taliban administration’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, has accused Pakistan of harbouring ISIS militants, while Pakistan has blamed the Afghan Taliban for supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In a press conference here on October 12, Mr. Muttaqi, however, blamed the actions by TTP on Pakistan, saying, “They should look inside their country.”

While welcoming Mr. Muttaqi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on October 10 the upgrading of the Indian Technical Mission in Kabul into a full-fledged embassy. Mr. Jaiswal said on Thursday that this upgradation process will be completed “within a few days”.

Afghanistan also featured prominently in the Bishkek meeting, which brought together the Secretaries of the Security Council and National Security Advisers of India and the Central Asian Republics. “The Secretaries/NSAs emphasised the significance of security and stability in Afghanistan for the region,” said a statement issued after the meeting.

“They agreed to work closely with Afghanistan in addressing security challenges, as well as in the areas of connectivity and economic development, which could form the basis of long-term stability,” the Ministry of External Affairs added.