The visit of Amir Khan Muttaq, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban government of Afghanistan, to India has added a new color to regional politics. This is the first visit by a major Afghan leader to India since the Taliban took over. Now, due to this visit, India has announced to reopen its embassy in Kabul. The development of the Chabahar port, trade and coordination on terrorist violence were discussed in the meeting of the Foreign Minister of the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaq, with the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India promised more cooperation to Afghanistan for humanitarian aid and development projects.
The opposition parties and the media expressed their displeasure over not inviting female journalists to the press conference at the Afghan embassy on October 10. Muttaq said in the second conference on October 12, “It was not a mistake, it was due to lack of time. We always include women.” This reduced the controversy a little. Muttaki was also scheduled to visit Deoband, where thousands of people gathered, who saw him as “the one who defeated the world’s superpowers, America and Russia.” Muttaki said in a press conference that the Attari-Wagah border should be opened not from a political perspective, but from an economic perspective. This is the shortest route for trade between India and Afghanistan.” He also talked about strengthening the Chabahar port, for which India and Afghanistan should talk to the US-Iran.
The Attari-Wala border is in Punjab’s Amritsar district, where trade will create thousands of jobs. Afghan fruits, vegetables, dry fruits and handicrafts will be able to come directly, which will reduce prices and provide new markets to local traders. Punjab’s economy will get a boost. In the past years, 162 Afghan trucks were specially allowed, which led to trade worth lakhs of rupees. Punjab’s farmers will also get a way to send their crops – such as to the global market. This will strengthen the Afghan economy, which will also help in stopping terrorism. Experts say that this trade will fulfill India’s strategic interests.
Although India has not made any firm promises yet, Jaishankar said that “all options are being explored to strengthen economic relations “The border is closed due to tensions with Pakistan, but a special announcement may be made for Afghan traders. According to experts, if Chabahar is completed, the possibility of opening the border will increase, as it will bypass Pakistan. In the future, the entire trade route may open by 2026, if the political situation remains stable.
Currently, Afghanistan is in a state of tension with Pakistan. On October 9, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan, which the Taliban attacked the bases of the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan). Pakistan accused Afghan soil of harboring terrorists. In retaliation, on October 11-12, the Afghan Taliban attacked Pakistani posts on the Durand Line (border). The clashes took place in Kunar, Nangarhar, Kurram and Bazar, where heavy and small arms fire broke out.
Afghanistan claimed that they 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 25 posts were captured, while only 9 of their own were killed. Pakistan said it killed 200 Taliban and militants, but 23 of its own soldiers were killed and 29 were injured. This led to the closure of the border between the two countries, which has halted trade and affected thousands of people. The Taliban’s guerrilla strategy (raids in mountainous areas) has frightened Pakistan. However, Pakistan’s air power is strong.
Afghanistan had called off the operation on October 12 due to the mediation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Muttaki said, “We want peace, but if not, we have other options.”
Pakistan is troubled by the Indo-Afghan alliance, in which Jammu and Kashmir is called an integral part of India. Islamabad summoned the Afghan ambassador and said, “This is a violation of UN resolutions.” Pakistan said that Afghan soil has become a hub for terrorists. All this is related to Muttaki’s visit, which scares Pakistan from Indo-Afghan rapprochement.
