New Delhi: In a move falling short of formal recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, India Friday upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to an “embassy”, while highlighting potential areas of cooperation, including in the mining sector. The announcement came during a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, where India also proposed six new developmental projects.

During the meeting, Jaishankar welcomed efforts by the Taliban to open its mining sector to Indian companies. Afghanistan is a resource-rich country, which has incentivised nations like China to deepen their diplomatic engagement with the Taliban. A Chinese firm signed a $450 million deal in 2023 to develop oil reserves in Northern Afghanistan.

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