Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, on his first official visit to India, urged Pakistan to eradicate terror groups operating from its soil, mirroring Afghanistan's recent crackdown on militants. Speaking to reporters after bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, Muttaqi claimed the Taliban regime has eliminated all terrorist presence in Afghanistan since taking power in 2021. "Not a single one of them is in Afghanistan. Not an inch of land is controlled by them," he said, referencing groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, which historically used Afghan territory as a base for cross-border attacks on India.

The visit marked a significant thaw in India-Afghanistan relations, with New Delhi announcing the restoration of full diplomatic ties and the upgrading of its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy. Jaishankar expressed India's "deep interest" in Afghanistan's progress, emphasizing mutual respect and regional stability. This development comes amid Afghanistan's ongoing humanitarian challenges, including a recent earthquake that killed over 1,000 people and displaced thousands, to which India responded as the first international aid provider with medical supplies and rescue teams. Muttaqi praised New Delhi's swift action, calling India a "close friend" and advocating for expanded people-to-people ties, trade, and a new consultative mechanism to bolster cooperation.

Muttaqi reserved sharp criticism for Pakistan, accusing it of orchestrating a recent border blast in remote Afghan areas. "We consider this act of Pakistan wrong. Problems cannot be solved like this," he stated, reiterating Kabul's openness to dialogue but insisting relations must be reciprocal. He warned against testing Afghan resolve, invoking past defeats of superpowers: "If someone wants to do this, they should ask the Soviet Union, America, and NATO. They will explain that it is not good to play games with Afghanistan." The remarks highlight escalating tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, fueled by mutual accusations of harboring militants and border skirmishes since the Taliban's return to power.

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Looking ahead, Muttaqi called for trilateral talks involving India, Afghanistan, and the United States to address trade barriers, including tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. "India and Afghanistan should have joint talks with the US. It is the need for both of us," he said, stressing the importance of open trade routes to sustain growing bilateral commerce, which has rebounded despite global sanctions on the Taliban. As Afghanistan emerges from four decades of conflict, these overtures signal a potential pivot toward economic integration with South Asia, though persistent security concerns and international isolation remain hurdles to lasting peace.

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