NEW DELHI’S PRAGMATISM

Ideological differences, still vivid ties of some Taliban factions with Pakistani intelligence, and the presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan make any rapprochement need to be carefully calibrated

- Piotr Opalinski

In mid-May, the foreign ministers of India and Afghanistan had a phone conversation, among other things, about the terrorist attack in Kashmir. This was perceived as a signal of Delhi's pragmatic approach to the Taliban government and readiness for selective cooperation. Time will tell whether it is a temporary diplomatic maneuver or the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations based on strategic interests.

On May 15, India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, had a phone conversation with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttagi. He thanked Kabul for condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and for not accepting Pakistan's narrative about tensions in Afghan-Indian relations. The conversation also touched on issues of economic, visa, and infrastructure cooperation, including the outline of further strengthening trade and transport links between India and Afghanistan through Iran’s port of Chabahar—bypassing Pakistani territory.