India Moves Closer to Taliban: Strategic Shift in Afghanistan Policy Amid Rising Regional Tensions

India-Taliban Relations | India Afghanistan Policy | Taliban Diplomacy | South Asia Geopolitics

New Delhi, May 19, 2025 — In a significant foreign policy shift, India is cautiously engaging with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, signaling a new phase in South Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape. Sources in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirm ongoing informal talks with Taliban representatives in Doha, as New Delhi aims to safeguard its security interests, counter regional threats, and maintain influence in Afghanistan.

Why Is India Engaging with the Taliban?

India’s re-engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government is driven by a blend of strategic, economic, and humanitarian factors. With over $3 billion invested in infrastructure, schools, roads, and health care in Afghanistan, India is now exploring ways to protect these assets in the face of prolonged Taliban rule.

More importantly, the rise in cross-border terrorism and the growing footprint of Pakistan and China in the region have prompted Indian officials to rethink their hands-off approach to the Taliban.

“The engagement should not be viewed as recognition, but as a necessity to protect our national interests,” said a senior MEA official under the condition of anonymity.

Key Reasons Behind India’s Afghanistan Policy Shift

• Security concerns: India fears Afghanistan could once again become a base for anti-India terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
• Regional competition: China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan’s growing influence are pushing India to reassert its presence.
• Economic interests: India is keen to ensure that its development projects and trade routes (like Chabahar Port) are not jeopardized.
• Humanitarian outreach: India continues to send food aid, vaccines, and medical supplies to Afghan citizens, reinforcing its soft power.

Taliban Diplomacy: A New Phase of Realism

India’s approach reflects a broader trend in global diplomacy, where engagement without formal recognition is becoming a common strategy. Several countries, including Russia, Iran, and China, have already opened diplomatic channels with the Taliban regime.

Though India has not reopened its embassy in Kabul, backchannel communications and humanitarian operations are being used to keep dialogue alive. Analysts call this a “calculated engagement policy” — a balancing act between moral concerns and strategic imperatives.

Will India Recognize the Taliban Government?

As of now, India has not offered formal recognition to the Taliban government. Officials stress that the current outreach is about communication and risk mitigation, not legitimacy.

Regional Impact and Global Reactions

India’s engagement could influence the broader South Asian power equation. With the Taliban seeking international legitimacy and India striving to protect its regional interests, both sides appear to be testing the waters.

If managed effectively, this engagement may provide India with leverage in Central Asia and act as a counterbalance to China-Pakistan influence in Afghanistan.