In a significant diplomatic development, the first envoy appointed by the Taliban to serve in India since the group's 2021 return to power has arrived in New Delhi to assume control of the Afghan embassy.
A New Charge d'Affaires Takes Post
Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, a senior Taliban member, has taken up the role of Charge d'Affaires at the Afghan mission in the Indian capital. He arrived in the country earlier this week and, following internal embassy briefings, is expected to formally commence his duties. Mr Noor is a former director general of the first political department at Afghanistan's foreign ministry and was part of the delegation that accompanied Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on a landmark visit to India in October 2025.
India's Cautious Engagement with Kabul
India has not granted official recognition to the Taliban government that seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021. However, it has pursued a policy of limited, pragmatic engagement in recent years. This includes providing humanitarian assistance, maintaining diplomatic contacts, and permitting Taliban-appointed staff to run Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad. The embassy in Delhi has continued to operate under interim arrangements, with its future diplomatic status unclear.
The situation took a step forward after Mr Muttaqi's October 2025 trip, when India announced it would reopen its own embassy in Kabul. India had closed its mission following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces but later established a small technical team in 2022 to oversee aid and trade. This announcement raised concerns among Afghan staff in Delhi who were appointed under the previous republic. Reports suggest they fear dismissal or pressure to return to Afghanistan, where they worry about reprisals.
Ongoing Challenges and International Scrutiny
Officials have indicated that current embassy employees will remain for now, and the flag of the former Afghan republic will continue to fly at the mission on Shantipath. However, these arrangements may be reviewed once the new Taliban envoy formally assumes control. Mr Muttaqi's visit itself required special approval from the UN Security Council, as he remains under international sanctions, including a travel ban, first imposed in 2001.
The Taliban's path to broader international recognition continues to be blocked by its severe restrictions on women's rights, a point underscored during the October visit when female journalists were barred from a press conference. While the UN General Assembly does not recognise the Taliban's administration, a handful of countries, including China, Russia, and Pakistan, maintain embassies in Kabul, with Russia being the only one to formally recognise the group as Afghanistan's government.
