New Delhi: Visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday firmly asserted his government’s control over the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, even as India continues to withhold formal recognition of the Taliban regime.
Addressing a crowded press conference at the embassy on Shantipath, Muttaqi pointed to the Islamic Emirate’s flag displayed behind him and on the table before him, declaring, “This is our flag. We fought jihad under this. This is 100 per cent our embassy. All those who are working here… they are all with us.”
His statement came even as the embassy continues to officially fly the former flag of the Ashraf Ghani government. Embassy staffers, speaking anonymously, voiced unease over the display of the Taliban flag, noting that New Delhi has yet to recognise the regime in Kabul.
Unlike Friday’s controversial briefing, where no female journalists were allowed and access was restricted to around 15 reporters, Sunday’s event was open to both Indian and foreign media, with several women journalists in attendance. The move was widely viewed as a course correction following sharp criticism from Indian and international press bodies over gender-based restrictions.
Muttaqi, who is on a week-long visit to India, said his delegation held “constructive and result-oriented” discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. “We discussed trade, economy, healthcare, aviation links, and development projects. India assured readiness to facilitate trade visas, student exchanges, and restart stalled infrastructure works,” he said.
He added that Jaishankar had conveyed India’s plan to upgrade its embassy in Kabul.
Announcing a series of bilateral initiatives, Muttaqi said new air routes connecting Delhi-Kabul, Mumbai-Kandahar, and Amritsar-Afghanistan will soon be launched. A joint India-Afghanistan trade committee is also being set up, with proposals for cooperation in minerals, agriculture, and sports diplomacy.
The Afghan minister confirmed that Kabul has requested India to consider opening the Attari-Wagah border for Afghan exports to ease trade movement.
On the issue of women’s rights, Muttaqi maintained, “Everyone’s rights are protected in Islam, whether man or woman. We don’t oppose education. Education is not haram.” He claimed that over 10 million students, including girls, are currently attending school in Afghanistan, asserting that restrictions apply only in “specific parts” of the country.
Muttaqi also revealed that he raised the issue of Afghan detainees in Indian prisons and sought their repatriation.
During his visit, the minister and his delegation travelled to Deoband, where they interacted with students and discussed academic collaborations between Darul Uloom Deoband and Afghan institutions. “Our ulema have historical ties with India. We will expand academic and cultural exchanges,” he said.
On Pakistan, Muttaqi was categorical: “We want zero tension and peaceful ties. But if relations are mishandled, we also know how to handle security.” He urged Islamabad to “control its own checkpoints” rather than blame Afghanistan for cross-border issues, denying the presence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) elements on Afghan soil.
“For 40 years, we fought the Soviets, the Americans, and NATO. Now we are free and standing on our feet,” he declared, reaffirming that Afghanistan seeks independent relations with India based on “mutual respect and trade cooperation.”
With IANS inputs