Foreign policy rhetoric is a double-edged sword. It rallies nations, sways allies, and justifies bold moves — but when slogans outlive reality, they shackle strategic flexibility. India’s evolving stance on Afghanistan is a textbook case: once branded a “terrorist sanctuary” under Taliban rule, the regime is now receiving ambulances, embassy upgrades, and high-level handshakes from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

On October 10, 2025, in New Delhi, Jaishankar personally handed over five of twenty gifted ambulances to Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi — the first official visit by a Taliban FM since 2021. India has quietly upgraded its Kabul Technical Mission to a full embassy, pledged refugee housing, and launched new health initiatives. This marks a seismic shift from the “no recognition” stance of 2021.

For years, Indian rhetoric framed the Taliban as a security threat — a narrative that galvanized domestic support and aligned with U.S.-led global isolation. But national interest evolves. With Pakistan’s influence waning, China courting Kabul, and millions of Afghans in crisis, New Delhi chose pragmatism over principle. The ambulances symbolize not just aid, but a strategic recalibration: engagement to secure borders, counter rivals, and shape outcomes.

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The danger? When leaders cling to outdated slogans — “terror hub,” “pariah state” — they risk policy paralysis. Rhetoric must serve strategy, not strangle it. India’s pivot proves that discarding dogma unlocks flexibility. As Jaishankar’s gesture shows, sometimes the boldest grand strategy is admitting yesterday’s words no longer fit today’s world.

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